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Pakistan: Arbaeen Procession targetted, then Hospital |
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Written by Ashraf Khan
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Saturday, 06 February 2010 11:29 |
 Two bombs targeting Shia Muslims exploded in Pakistan's largest city
yesterday, one outside a hospital treating victims from the first blast hours
earlier. At least 25 people were killed and around 100 others wounded.
Police appealed for calm following the strikes in the chaotic city of 16 million
people. In late December, a bomb in the southern port city killed 44 pilgrims
attending a procession to mark Ashura, the anniversary of the death of revered
Shia figure Imam Hussein, sparking deadly riots.
Yesterday's blasts coincided with Arbaeen, the final day of the annual 40-day
mourning period for Hussein.
The first blast targeted a bus carrying worshippers, most of them women and
children, killing 12 and wounding 49, officials said. The bomb was attached to a
motorcycle and detonated as the bus drove to an Arbaeen procession, witnesses
said. The second bomb exploded outside the entrance to the emergency ward at
Jinnah Hospital, packed with victims and relatives of those caught in the
earlier attack.
"A woman was calling me at the emergency ward, when the blast went off outside
and then it was all darkness," said Seemi Jamali, a senior doctor, as he
recalled the explosion. "There was absolute chaos and people ran out of the
hospital from whichever door they could."
Source: Abridged version of article that appeared on Reuters
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Last Updated on Saturday, 06 February 2010 12:03 |
