Deadly bomb blasts kill 37 in Karachi

At least 37 people were killed as two bomb blasts rocked commercial center of Karachi Sunday evening, officials said.
Nearly 90 other people, including women and children, were also injured when a powerful bomb hit residential apartments near a mosque at Abbas Town area, commissioner Karachi said.

A police officer Qamar Ahmad said the bomb was attached to a motorbike and was parked near a residential plaza. The bomb exploded as the people were coming out of a mosque, he said. Police sources also said that preliminary investigation also suggests that a car may have also been used in the attack.

Residents said that children and women were among the injured. People fled their apartments in panic as the bomb shook the building. A second blast also occurred few minutes after the first blast. However, police said second blast was caused by a gas cylinder.

The blasts destroyed most parts of the apartments and witnesses said that nearly 40 flats were badly damaged.

Fire also broke out in flats and fire tenders were called to extinguish the fire. TV footage showed destruction at the residential plaza and several nearby buildings, including two banks and shops.

Residents said that the blasts smashed windows of their houses and several nearby houses and shops. Paramilitary troops and the police arrived at the scene and cordoned off the area for smooth transfer of the injured.

Electricity to the area also suspended and residents of the targeted building were seen fleeing in panic. Shortly after the first blast, locals started relief activities and started evacuating the injured from the plaza.

Shiite groups announced day of mourning in Karachi on Monday. The government has also announced official mourning day in Sindh province of which Karachi is the capital.

No group claimed responsibility for the attack.

Prime Minister Raja Pervez Asharf has strongly condemned the blasts in Karachi in which several innocent people have lost their lives, the PM office said Sunday

The Prime Minister, who is in Karachi, asked the local administration to coordinate relief activities so that those injured could be evacuated and provided immediate medical treatment.

He also ordered an inquiry into the incident and directed the authorities to submit a comprehensive report in this regard. The Prime Minister said that those targeting innocent civilians are serving the interests of anti-state and anti-social elements.

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Posted by Tahir Khan on Mar 3 2013. Filed under Latest News, National, Pakistan. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.