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Deadly bomb hits Pakistan march Suicide attack on Pakistan Shias
(20 minutes later)
At least 25 people have been killed and dozens injured in a suicide bomb attack on a Shia Muslim march in the Pakistani city of Karachi, officials say.At least 25 people have been killed and dozens injured in a suicide bomb attack on a Shia Muslim march in the Pakistani city of Karachi, officials say.
Hundreds of people had been part of the procession at the time of the blast. Dozens of people were hurt as the blast went off in the midst of a procession with tens of thousands of marchers.
In the immediate aftermath of the explosion, irate marchers turned their anger on security forces, journalists and ambulance workers. After the explosion, marchers turned their anger on security forces, journalists and ambulance workers.
Pakistan's security forces were on high alert as Shia Muslims marked the holy month of Muharram or Ashura. Pakistan's security forces had been on high alert as Shia Muslims marked the holy month of Muharram, or Ashura.
Monday was the climax of the holy period, which commemorates the death of the Prophet Muhammad's grandson.Monday was the climax of the holy period, which commemorates the death of the Prophet Muhammad's grandson.
Smashed ambulances
There have been numerous attacks on such processions across the country over the last few days, says the BBC's Aleem Maqbool.There have been numerous attacks on such processions across the country over the last few days, says the BBC's Aleem Maqbool.
On Sunday eight people were killed when a suicide bomber attacked a Shia march in Pakistan-administered Kashmir. I am hearing people are clashing with police and doctors, that is what terrorists want, to see this city again on fire Mustafa KamalKarachi Mayor class="" href="/2/hi/south_asia/8432238.stm">Pakistan suicide blast toll rises class="" href="/2/hi/south_asia/7901094.stm">Pakistan's sectarian schism
Marchers' outrage On Sunday, eight people were killed when a suicide bomber attacked a Shia march in Pakistan-administered Kashmir.
Television footage showed a large plume of smoke over the site of the blast in Karachi and ambulances rushing to and from the scene. Pakistan Interior Minister Rehman Malik said the suicide bomber had been walking with the procession, before detonating the explosives.
The blast unleashed further chaos as angry Shia mourners fired shots in the air. There have also been unconfirmed reports of mourners torching vehicles and buildings. Karachi police chief Waseem Ahmed said the severed head of the bomber had been found, reports Reuters news agency.
"My sister, her husband and children are dead," one mourner told AFP news agency, as he fled the scene of the blast.
The bombing unleashed further pandemonium as angry Shia mourners fired shots in the air.
Some marchers pelted the security forces who had been guarding the march with stones, the Associated Press news agency said.Some marchers pelted the security forces who had been guarding the march with stones, the Associated Press news agency said.
Television footage showed severely damaged police vehicles and ambulances. Television footage showed smashed police vehicles and ambulances.
As the backlash intensified, the mayor of Karachi, Mustafa Kamal, made an appeal for calm. Karachi Mayor Mustafa Kamal appealed for calm.
"I want to appeal to the people, to my brothers, my elders to stay calm. I am hearing people are clashing with police and doctors. Please do not do that. That is what terrorists are aiming at. They want to see this city again on fire," the AP news agency reported him as saying. Sectarian violence
"I want to appeal to the people, to my brothers, my elders to stay calm. I am hearing people are clashing with police and doctors.
"Please do not do that. That is what terrorists are aiming at. They want to see this city again on fire," AP news agency quoted him as saying.
Our correspondent 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.Our correspondent 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.
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 that is estimated to have killed several thousand people in the last three decades alone.
Some radicals in the Sunni majority regard Shias - who make up about 20% of the population - as heretics.