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Pakistani PM condemns attack on intelligence office

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Islamabad, Nov 12, IRNA -- Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani has strongly condemned the bomb explosion in the southern port city of Karachi, which killed at least 15 people and injured over 100.

The bomb hit the building of the Crime Investigation Department (CID) and witnesses said the building was completely destroyed in the attack.

Zulfikar Mirza, Home Minister of southern Sindh province, of which Karachi is the capital, said that an explosive-packed vehicle hit the intelligence office.

Mirza compared the attack with the suicide attack on the Marriot Hotel in Islamabad which killed 54 people and injured over 250 in September 2008.

The Prime Minister ordered the concerned authorities for holding an immediate enquiry into the incident and provide best medical facilities to the injured, the PM office said.

Gilani expressed deep grief and sorrow over the loss of precious lives and injuries to many others.

Witnesses said that they heard firing at the heavily-guarded CID office minutes before the bomb attack.

They said the bomber was trying to take the explosive-laden vehicle inside the CID building but was stopped by the guards, which prompted exchange of firing.

The Sindh Home minister also confirmed cross firing between the attackers and the guards.

Local TV channels reported that six detained members of the banned ‘Lashkar-e-Jhangvi’ group were kept in the CID center for questioning.

They were produced in a court in the morning and were shifted to the same building for interrogation.

Sources said that most of the policemen were among those killed and injured.

Several women and children, living in the nearby houses, were also injured.

Police sources said that several CID employees buried under the rubbles of the building. The explosion caused two big craters in the attack site.

A large number of ambulances from the city rushed to the site and shifted the injured to the hospitals.

Pakistani Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack and warned more attacks, local TV channels reported.

TV footage showed several injured people, including children, fleeing site of the blast.

Police and paramilitary force picked up several people after the blast.

**1420
Islamic Republic News Agency/IRNA NewsCode: 30070171