10 E Explosion in Pakistan’s largest city, Karachi

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Reuters, 11/11 17:23 CET

By Faisal Aziz

KARACHI (Reuters) – A massive explosion ripped through a security compound on a busy commercial street in Pakistan’s largest city, Karachi, on Thursday, killing at least 15 people and injuring more than 30, officials said.

The explosion occurred inside the compound of the Criminal Investigation Department on Karachi’s busy Club Road, said provincial government spokeswoman Sharmila Farooqi.

“The casualties may rise further,” a senior police official said. “Many people are injured.”

A Reuters photographer on the scene saw dozens of motorcycles destroyed and windows were shattered up to 2 km away. He also saw two wounded children evacuated from the scene.

The blast left a crater about 40 feet (12 metres) across and 12 feet (four metres) deep in front on the building. The building was gutted and some parts of nearby buildings collapsed.

(Additional reporting by Michael Georgy and Athar Hussain; Writing by Chris Allbritton; editing by David Stamp)