Bomb attack on Shia march in Pakistani city of Karachi

Karachi : At least 20 people have been killed and dozens injured in a suicide bomb attack on a Shia Muslim march in the Pakistani city of Karachi, officials say.

Hundreds of people had been part of the procession at the time of the blast.

In the immediate aftermath of the explosion, irate marchers turned their anger on security forces, journalists and ambulance workers.

Pakistan\'s security forces were on high alert as Shia Muslims marked the holy month of Muharram or Ashura.

Monday was the climax of the holy period, which commemorates the death of the Prophet Muhammad\'s grandson.

There have been numerous attacks on such processions across the country over the last few days, says the BBC\'s Aleem Maqbool.

On Sunday eight people were killed when a suicide bomber attacked a Shia march in Pakistan-administered Kashmir.

Television footage showed a large plume of smoke over the site of the blast in Karachi and ambulances rushing to and from the scene.

The blast unleashed further chaos as angry Shia mourners fired shots in the air. There have also been unconfirmed reports of mourners torching vehicles and buildings.

Some marchers pelted the security forces who had been guarding the march with stones, the Associated Press news agency said.

Television footage showed severely damaged police vehicles and ambulances.

As the backlash intensified, the mayor of Karachi, Mustafa Kamal, made an appeal for calm.

\"I want to appeal to the people, to my brothers, my elders to stay calm. I am hearing people are clashing with police and doctors. Please do not do that. That is what terrorists are aiming at. They want to see this city again on fire,\" the AP news agency reported him as saying.

Our correspondent says an incident like this had been feared by the authorities. Stringent security measures had been put in place across the country over the last month.

Hundreds of civilians have been killed in bomb attacks in recent months as Pakistan\'s army pursues an offensive against Taliban militants in South Waziristan and surrounding areas.

Pakistan also has a long history of violence between Sunni and Shia Muslims.
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