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| Version 9 | Version 10 |
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| Suicide attack on Pakistan Shias | Suicide attack on Pakistan Shias |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| At least 25 people have been killed and dozens injured in a suicide bombing on a Shia Muslim march in the Pakistani city of Karachi, officials say. | |
| The attacker was walking in the middle of a procession with tens of thousands of people, said the interior minister. | |
| After the explosion, 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 had been 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. |
| There was no immediate claim of responsibility, which comes amid an upsurge of attacks by Taliban militants in Pakistan. | There was no immediate claim of responsibility, which comes amid an upsurge of attacks by Taliban militants in Pakistan. |
| Smashed ambulances | Smashed ambulances |
| Karachi has a long history of sectarian violence between Shias and Sunnis. | Karachi has a long history of sectarian violence between Shias and Sunnis. |
| 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 href="/2/hi/in_pictures/8432676.stm">In pictures: Karachi march attacked class="" href="/2/hi/south_asia/8432238.stm">Pakistan suicide blast toll rises Pakistan's sectarian schism | |
| 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. | On Sunday, eight people were killed when a suicide bomber attacked a Shia march in Pakistan-administered Kashmir. |
| Karachi police chief Waseem Ahmed said the severed head of the bomber from Monday's attack 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. | "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. | 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 smashed police vehicles and ambulances. | Television footage showed smashed police vehicles and ambulances. |
| Karachi Mayor Mustafa Kamal appealed for calm. | Karachi Mayor Mustafa Kamal appealed for calm. |
| Sectarian violence | 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. | "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. | "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 that is estimated to have killed several thousand people in the last three decades alone. | 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. | Some radicals in the Sunni majority regard Shias - who make up about 20% of the population - as heretics. |