This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-21649412
The article has changed 9 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 7 | Version 8 |
|---|---|
| Pakistan Karachi bomb blast kills dozens | Pakistan Karachi bomb blast kills dozens |
| (1 day later) | |
| At least 45 people have been killed by a bomb explosion in the Pakistani city of Karachi, police say. | At least 45 people have been killed by a bomb explosion in the Pakistani city of Karachi, police say. |
| The blast in the mainly Shia Muslim area of Abbas Town destroyed several buildings and set others on fire. Some reports spoke of a second explosion. | The blast in the mainly Shia Muslim area of Abbas Town destroyed several buildings and set others on fire. Some reports spoke of a second explosion. |
| No group has yet said it planted the bomb, which went off near a mosque as worshippers left evening prayers. | No group has yet said it planted the bomb, which went off near a mosque as worshippers left evening prayers. |
| Pakistan's Shia minority are the target of frequent sectarian attacks from Sunni militant groups. | Pakistan's Shia minority are the target of frequent sectarian attacks from Sunni militant groups. |
| Shia Muslims make up about 20% of Pakistan's population of 180 million, and while sectarian violence targeting them is by no means a new phenomenon it is on the rise. | Shia Muslims make up about 20% of Pakistan's population of 180 million, and while sectarian violence targeting them is by no means a new phenomenon it is on the rise. |
| Human Rights Watch says that last year more than 400 Shias were killed in such attacks across the country. | Human Rights Watch says that last year more than 400 Shias were killed in such attacks across the country. |
| Just in the first two months of this year, nearly 200 Shias - members of the Hazara community - have been killed in the south-western city of Quetta. | Just in the first two months of this year, nearly 200 Shias - members of the Hazara community - have been killed in the south-western city of Quetta. |
| Karachi, where this latest anti-Shia bombing has taken place, is notorious for violence of various kinds. | Karachi, where this latest anti-Shia bombing has taken place, is notorious for violence of various kinds. |
| But it is clear that the ability of the authorities to protect Shias is now being tested even more severely - and this as new elections are around the corner. | But it is clear that the ability of the authorities to protect Shias is now being tested even more severely - and this as new elections are around the corner. |
| Political and religious leaders were quick to condemn the Karachi attack and promise help to the victims. | Political and religious leaders were quick to condemn the Karachi attack and promise help to the victims. |
| The explosion sent a huge column of smoke into the sky above Karachi and caused a power cut in part of the city. | The explosion sent a huge column of smoke into the sky above Karachi and caused a power cut in part of the city. |
| Police are investigating whether it was a suicide attack. | Police are investigating whether it was a suicide attack. |
| Rescuers have been struggling to reach people trapped under the rubble. | Rescuers have been struggling to reach people trapped under the rubble. |
| Residents have been using car headlights to help the search for survivors, local media reports said. | Residents have been using car headlights to help the search for survivors, local media reports said. |
| Around 150 people were wounded by the explosion, officials said. | Around 150 people were wounded by the explosion, officials said. |
| "I was watching television when I heard an explosion and my flat was badly shaken," Karachi resident Mariam Bibi told Reuters news agency. | "I was watching television when I heard an explosion and my flat was badly shaken," Karachi resident Mariam Bibi told Reuters news agency. |
| "I saw people burning to death and crying with pain. I saw children lying in pools of their own blood and women running around shouting for their children and loved ones." she added. | "I saw people burning to death and crying with pain. I saw children lying in pools of their own blood and women running around shouting for their children and loved ones." she added. |
| Rescue work was delayed as some residents fired guns into the air in anger at the carnage, reports say. | Rescue work was delayed as some residents fired guns into the air in anger at the carnage, reports say. |
| Sectarian divide | Sectarian divide |
| Pakistan's main political and religious leaders rushed to condemn the attack - the latest to target the Shia minority. | Pakistan's main political and religious leaders rushed to condemn the attack - the latest to target the Shia minority. |
| Nearly 200 people were killed in two separate bombings targeting the Shia community in the south-western city of Quetta in January and February. | Nearly 200 people were killed in two separate bombings targeting the Shia community in the south-western city of Quetta in January and February. |
| Some relatives of the victims there initially refused to bury their dead in protest at what they said was the failure of the authorities to protect their community from attack. | Some relatives of the victims there initially refused to bury their dead in protest at what they said was the failure of the authorities to protect their community from attack. |
| No group has yet admitted to carrying out the Karachi bombing, but correspondents say suspicion is likely to fall on Sunni militant groups. | No group has yet admitted to carrying out the Karachi bombing, but correspondents say suspicion is likely to fall on Sunni militant groups. |
| Groups such as Lashkar-e-Jhangvi regard Shia Muslims as heretics and have stepped up attacks in recent years. | Groups such as Lashkar-e-Jhangvi regard Shia Muslims as heretics and have stepped up attacks in recent years. |
| They are thought to have set several training camps for militants and police seizures have shown they have access to large quantities of weapons and explosives, the BBC's M Ilyas Khan in Islamabad says. | They are thought to have set several training camps for militants and police seizures have shown they have access to large quantities of weapons and explosives, the BBC's M Ilyas Khan in Islamabad says. |
| Some activists called 2012 the worst year in living memory for attacks on Pakistan's Shia community. | Some activists called 2012 the worst year in living memory for attacks on Pakistan's Shia community. |
| But already this year bombings in the south-western of Quetta alone have killed nearly 200 people. | But already this year bombings in the south-western of Quetta alone have killed nearly 200 people. |
| Last month Pakistan's Supreme Court called on the authorities to devise a strategy to protect Shia Muslims more effectively, given the increase in attacks. | Last month Pakistan's Supreme Court called on the authorities to devise a strategy to protect Shia Muslims more effectively, given the increase in attacks. |
| Karachi - Pakistan's biggest city and commercial capital - has a long history of violence. | Karachi - Pakistan's biggest city and commercial capital - has a long history of violence. |
| As well as a sectarian divide between Sunni and Shia, that city has also seen conflict between different ethnic communities - Pashtuns from north-west Pakistan, Mohajirs (immigrants from India following the Partition) and Sindhis. | As well as a sectarian divide between Sunni and Shia, that city has also seen conflict between different ethnic communities - Pashtuns from north-west Pakistan, Mohajirs (immigrants from India following the Partition) and Sindhis. |