12 killed in Karachi blasts (Second Lead)
By IANSFriday, February 5, 2010
ISLAMABAD - Twelve people were killed and 45 injured Friday in two powerful bomb explosions in Pakistan’s Karachi city, media reports said.
The first blast took place when a bus hit an explosives-laden motorcycle on a bridge in the Shahrah-i-Faisal area.
Police officer Waseem Ahmed said the bomb was planted on the motorcycle.
He said the blast was so powerful that it was heard from several kilometers away.
Sources said the bus was on its way to a Muharram procession when the blast took place.
Officials have cordoned off the area after the blast.
The second blast took place at the Jinnah Post-Graduate Medical Centre where the injured of the first blast were brought.
Geo TV said the blast took place at the gate of the hospital’s emergency ward.
Semi Jamali, in charge of the hospital’s emergency ward, told reporters that at least 11 bodies and 40 injured were brought to the facility so far.
After hearing the news of the two blasts, the participants of a Muharram procession staged a protest demonstration on M.A. Jinnah road.
Meanwhile, Shia Ulema Council has announced a three-day mourning in Karachi.
No causality has been reported in the second blast so far.
President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani have strongly condemned the blasts and ordered investigation into the incident.
