Rescue workers survey the damaged bus at the scene of a bomb blast in Karachi yesterday. At least 12 people were killed and dozens injured, when their bus was hit by a bomb planted on a motorcycle.
KARACHI, Pakistan - Two bombs targeting Shiite Muslims exploded in Pakistan's largest city yesterday, one outside a hospital treating victims from the first blast hours earlier. At least 22 people were killed and more than 50 others wounded.
- Police appealed for calm following the strikes in the chaotic city of 16 million people. Karachi has a history of religious violence between Shiite and Sunni Muslims, and has been tense in recent weeks due to deadly clashes between rival political parties.
- In late December, a bomb in the southern port city killed 44 Shiites attending a procession to mark Ashura, the anniversary of the death of revered Shiite figure Imam Hussein, sparking deadly riots. Friday's blasts coincided with Arbaeen, the final day of the annual 40-day mourning period for Hussein.
- One of Pakistan's many al-Qa'ida linked Sunni extremist groups will be suspected in the twin attacks.
- The first blast targeted a bus carrying worshippers, most of them women and children, killing 12 and wounding 49, officials said. The bomb was attached to a motorcycle and detonated as the bus drove to an Arbaeen procession, witnesses said. One witness said it may have been a suicide bombing, but that could not be confirmed.
- The second bomb exploded outside the entrance to the emergency ward at Jinnah Hospital, which was packed with victims and relatives of those killed and wounded in the earlier attack. It was either hidden on a motorbike or in or close to an ambulance, a witness and a government official said.
- Government spokesman Jamil Soomro said 10 people were killed and several others were wounded.
- Source: AP, Gulf News, The Independent
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