Karachi struck by double bomb attack
Karachi struck by double bomb attack
Friday, 05, Feb 2010 03:13
By Richard James.
At least 23 people have been killed in Pakistan's financial capital Karachi after a group of Shia Muslims were targeted on the way to a religious festival.
The first attack killed at least 12 people and injured another 50 as a suicide bomber, reportedly on a motorcycle, rammed a bus on one of the city's busiest roads.
A second bomber is then said to have later killed another 11 people at the Jinnah hospital, where victims of the first attack were being treated.
Reports in Pakistan claim the group in the bus had been heading to a religious procession to mark the end of the Arbaeen religious festival.
Also on Friday, at least 27 Shia Muslims were killed in the Iraqi city of Karbala as they took part in a religious event.
Commenting on the attack on the Karachi hospital today, eyewitness Azam Ali told the AFP news agency the majority of the casualties were relatives of those injured in the first blast.
The twin bombing is the deadliest attack in Pakistan since 101 people were killed at a volleyball match in the district of Lakki Marwat on New Year's Day.