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Six killed in Karachi explosion Eight killed in Karachi explosion
(about 6 hours later)
At least six people are thought to have been killed in an explosion at a house in the Pakistani city of Karachi. At least eight people have been killed in an explosion at a house in the Pakistani city of Karachi, police said.
The blast happened in Balida Town, a poor neighbourhood of the southern city, Pakistan's commercial hub.The blast happened in Balida Town, a poor neighbourhood of the southern city, Pakistan's commercial hub.
The blast's cause was not immediately known, but police said explosives stored at the house may have gone off. Police said explosives stored at the house may have gone off and that the dead were believed to be militants.
In December, a blast at a Shia Muslim march in Karachi, claimed by the Taliban, killed 43 people and injured dozens more.In December, a blast at a Shia Muslim march in Karachi, claimed by the Taliban, killed 43 people and injured dozens more.
"There was a blast in a house in [Karachi's] Balida Town in which six people were killed. The house collapsed. We are trying to ascertain the exact nature of the blast," senior police official Abdul Majeed Dasti told the AFP news agency. "The terrorists themselves are the victims of their own explosives," the AFP news agency quoted Karachi police chief Waseem Ahmad as saying.
He said hand grenades and a Kalashnikov rifle had been found at the site of the explosion. Police say that eight bodies were pulled out from the rubble of the house.
Karachi police chief Waseem Ahmad said explosives stored in the house appeared to have caused the explosion. They say that hand grenades, Kalashnikov rifles and suicide vests were also recovered from the scene.
"It seems that the house was being used by terrorists. We are taking utmost care in removing the rubble," Mr Ahmad. "So far, evidence on the ground shows the occupants of this house were trying to shift explosives and weapons when the blast occurred," Mr Ahmad said.
"It seemed they were using two motorcycles we found in the rubble to transport the explosives."
Targeted killingsTargeted killings
It was not clear whether the dead were residents of the house or were passers-by. Pakistan's Interior Minister Rehman Malik told reporters that the people living in the house were from the Swat Valley, a north-western district which was until recently a Taliban stronghold.
Separately, at least eight people have been killed in what appear to be incidents of targeted killings of mostly ethnic Balochis in parts of Karachi on Thursday.Separately, at least eight people have been killed in what appear to be incidents of targeted killings of mostly ethnic Balochis in parts of Karachi on Thursday.
The police suspect explosives stored in the house led to the blastThe police suspect explosives stored in the house led to the blast
The killings were apparently triggered off by the discovery of a beheaded body of a member of Muttahida Quami Movement (MQM) in the old city's Lyari district.The killings were apparently triggered off by the discovery of a beheaded body of a member of Muttahida Quami Movement (MQM) in the old city's Lyari district.
The MQM has dominated politics in Karachi since the mid-1980s.The MQM has dominated politics in Karachi since the mid-1980s.
Unknown gunmen then went on a rampage in the area, killing seven people, mostly ethnic Balochis, police said.Unknown gunmen then went on a rampage in the area, killing seven people, mostly ethnic Balochis, police said.
An eyewitness told BBC Urdu's Riaz Sohail in Karachi that two or three victims of the killings were sitting outside their house and repairing an auto rickshaw when armed men riding motorcycles gunned them down.An eyewitness told BBC Urdu's Riaz Sohail in Karachi that two or three victims of the killings were sitting outside their house and repairing an auto rickshaw when armed men riding motorcycles gunned them down.
Karachi is dominated by Urdu-speaking people who migrated to Pakistan from India at the time of India's Partition in 1947 - they form the main support base of MQM. Karachi is dominated by Urdu-speaking people whose families migrated to Pakistan from India at the time of India's Partition in 1947 - they form the main support base of MQM.
Meanwhile Lyari district is mostly populated by ethnic Balochi people, who mostly support President Asif Ali Zardari's Pakistan's People Party. The Lyari district is mostly populated by ethnic Balochi people, who mostly support President Asif Ali Zardari's Pakistan People's Party.
Pakistan has seen an upsurge in violence in recent months.Pakistan has seen an upsurge in violence in recent months.
Hundreds of civilians have died in bomb attacks as Pakistan's army concludes an offensive against Taliban militants in South Waziristan and surrounding areas.Hundreds of civilians have died in bomb attacks as Pakistan's army concludes an offensive against Taliban militants in South Waziristan and surrounding areas.
Are you in the area? Did you witness the explosion? Send us your comments.Are you in the area? Did you witness the explosion? Send us your comments.
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