5 killed in bomb outside hospital treating earlier blast victims in Pakistan

5 killed in bomb attack on hospital in Pakistan

KARACHI, Pakistan — Police say at least five people have been killed by the bomb that went off outside a hospital in Pakistan’s southern city of Karachi.

The hospital was treating many of the victims of a bombing targeting the city’s minority Shiite Muslim community earlier Friday.

Police official Azeem Ahmad says the bomb was apparently in or close to an ambulance outside the emergency ward at Jinnah Hospital.

Dr Muhammad Yusuf from the nearby Liaqat National Hospital says five people have been killed. Media reports put the figure as high as 11.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP’s earlier story is below.

KARACHI, Pakistan (AP) — Two bombs exploded in Pakistan’s largest city Friday, one outside a hospital treating casualties from the first attack. At least 12 people were killed and more than 50 wounded.

The first blast targeted a bus carrying Shiite Muslim worshippers, most of them women and children.

Twelve people were killed in the attack, and 49 were injured, officials said.

The second bomb two hours later wounded several more people outside the entrance to the emergency ward at Jinnah Hospital, witness Imran Ahmad said.

Karachi has a history of religious violence and has been tense in recent weeks due to deadly clashes between rival political parties.

In late December, a bomb killed 44 Shiites attending a procession in the city, sparking riots.

Extremists from Pakistan’s Sunni Muslim majority are believed to have carried out that blast and will be suspected in the latest attacks too.