SUICIDE BOMBING DURING MUHARRAM PROCESSION IN KARACHI -

UNCLAS KARACHI 000396 SIPDIS SENSITIVE E.O 12956: N/A TAGS: PGOV PTER PK SUBJECT: SUICIDE BOMBING DURING MUHARRAM PROCESSION IN KARACHI - SITREP 1 ¶1. (SBU) Summary: A suicide bomber attacked a Muharram procession in Karachi on December 28. Preliminary reports indicate 25 dead and 82 wounded. Following the initial explosion, marchers attacked security personnel and vehicles. Leaders from all political parties are calling for calm in the city. End Summary. ¶2. (SBU) A suicide bomber detonated himself in the midst of a Muharram procession at 1615L on December 28. The bombing, on M.A. Jinnah Road, was approximately 3km northwest of the consulate office building. Casualty figures are still rising, but currently stand at 25 dead and 82 injured. Over 10,000 security personnel were assigned to the procession route and roads blocked. However, the attacker was still able to get into the procession. No one is hazarding a guess yet as to the identity or affiliation of the bomber, although most politicians view it as an extension of the recent attacks in other parts of the country. One "suspicious individual" was arrested at the scene. Following the explosion, marchers began attacking security personnel and vehicles. Several ambulances and police vehicles were damaged by the explosion and subsequent rioting. There are reports of sporadic acts of violence in the city, mainly shops being set on fire, but nothing widespread. ¶3. (SBU) In an effort to quell potential sectarian violence, leaders from both the Pakistan People's Party (PPP) and Muttahida Quami Movement (MQM) took to the airwaves to urge calm. Syed Mustafa Kamal, mayor of Karachi, called for citizens to "not take law and order into their own hands" as this was not an attack on a particular group, but an "attack on all people of Karachi." Farooq Sattar, Minister for Overseas Pakistanis deemed the attack a "strike at the jugular vein of Pakistan." ¶4. (SBU) All Consulate Karachi personnel are accounted for (tdy and permanent). The area of the procession was restricted by RSO in a security notice issued last week, and no consulate personnel were in the area. Post will continue to monitor the situation overnight, but currently plans to maintain normal operations. MADDEN