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Bomb attack hits Pakistan march Deadly bomb hits Pakistan march
(30 minutes later)
At least three people have been killed in a bomb attack on a religious procession in the southern Pakistani city of Karachi, officials say. At least 15 people have been killed in a bomb attack on a religious procession in the southern Pakistani city of Karachi, officials say.
Television footage showed a large plume of smoke over the site of the blast and ambulances rushing to the scene.Television footage showed a large plume of smoke over the site of the blast and ambulances rushing to the scene.
Pakistan's security forces have been on high alert as Muslims have been marking the holy day of Ashura.Pakistan's security forces have been on high alert as Muslims have been marking the holy day of Ashura.
On Sunday at least eight people died when a suicide bomber attacked a Shia march in Pakistan-administered Kashmir.On Sunday at least eight people died when a suicide bomber attacked a Shia march in Pakistan-administered Kashmir.
"We are trying to ascertain whether it was a time bomb or a suicide attack, but it is a terrorist attack," police officer Abdul Wahid Khan told Reuters news agency."We are trying to ascertain whether it was a time bomb or a suicide attack, but it is a terrorist attack," police officer Abdul Wahid Khan told Reuters news agency.
There have also been reports of attacks by irate marchers on security forces, media and ambulance workers in the aftermath of the blast.
Hundreds of people had been marching through a particularly congested area of Karachi when the explosion occurred.
Stringent security
The BBC's Aleem Maqbool says an incident like this had been feared by the authorities. Stringent security measures had been put in place across the country over the last month.
These processions have been occurring in cities around Pakistan as Muslims mark the holy month of Moharram or Ashura - and there have been numerous attacks on them over the last few days, our correspondent says.
Today was the climax of the holy period, which commemorates the death of the Prophet Mohammed's grandson.
Hundreds of civilians have been killed in bomb attacks in recent months as Pakistan's army pursues an offensive against Taliban militants in South Waziristan and surrounding areas.Hundreds of civilians have been killed in bomb attacks in recent months as Pakistan's army pursues an offensive against Taliban militants in South Waziristan and surrounding areas.
Pakistan also has a long history of violence between Sunni and Shia Muslims.Pakistan also has a long history of violence between Sunni and Shia Muslims.