Four killed in multiple Karachi blasts

KARACHI: At least four people were killed and 30 more injured in multiple bomb blasts in Pakistan's port city of Karachi on Tuesday, officials said.

The blasts struck during the observance of of Hazrat's Imam Hussain's (RA) Chehlum (40th day of mourning after his martyrdom).

The first blast hit near the wall of an Imam Bargah (Shia mosque) in Orangi Town, a bustling western suburb, followed by another powerful explosion a short distance away.

An official from Abbasi Shaheed Hospital said three bodies were brought to the hospital along with 30 injured. One of the injured later died in the hospital.

"Both the bombs were detonated with brief intervals, the second was quite fatal," Chaudhry Asad, a senior police officer told AFP.

City police chief Shahid Hayat told reporters that both were timer devices.

A third bomb exploded near Numaish Chowrangi in the eastern district but no causalities were reported. The spot was supposed to be on the route of the Chehlum procession.

Pakistan has seen a steep rise in sectarian violence after a deadly clash between Sunni and Shia Muslim groups in the cantonment city of Rawalpindi in November that left around a dozen people dead.

Authorities switched off cell phone services in dozens of cities across the country on Tuesday as a security measure, while 10,000 soldiers were put on standby.