Karachi attacks kill 57 at Prophet’s birthday ceremony
More than 57 Sunni Muslims were killed in two powerful explosions that hit a gathering to celebrate the birthday of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) in the Pakistani city of Karachi, Reuters reported.
The attacks, the bloodiest in Pakistan for years, targeted tens of thousands of Sunni Muslims who had been taking part in evening prayers in Karachi‘s Nishtar Park.
The event had been organized by the Sunni organization, Jamaat-e-Ahle Sunnat, which has thousands of followers in the country.
"The blast shook the earth. It was like hell," said Muhammad Ehtesham, a 70-year-old witness.
"We were about to finish our prayers when blast went off ... It was so strong," said Ali Nasir, a young man among the wounded.
The attacks were strongly condemned by Shia leader Allama Hassan Turabi as well as President Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz.
"It is an act of terrorism," deputy inspector-general of police investigation, Manzoor Mughal, told Reuters.
Nobody claimed responsibility for the attacks.
Karachi witnessed another disaster on Sunday when more than 30 women and children were killed in a deadly stampede during prayers also marking the Prophet's birthday in a Karachi mosque.
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