Karachi, 8 May 2002 (RFE/RL) -- A car bomb exploded next to a shuttle bus in Karachi today, killing 10 French workers, their Pakistani driver, and the suspected suicide bomber. Police say more than 20 people were injured when the bomb exploded in a car that pulled alongside the bus as it was parked outside a luxury hotel. The Europeans were working for a French military company that was helping the Pakistani navy build submarines in the port city.
Provincial police chief Kamal Shah said 25 foreigners were on the bus and others were boarding the bus when the bomb exploded. "This was a car bomb. This is a car, it's a 1974 Corolla car. So the bomb, it exploded, it [the car] was perhaps parked close to the bus, so it hit the bus, hence the casualties."
No one has claimed responsibility for the bombing.
French President Jacques Chirac condemned the attack and has ordered his defense minister to leave for Karachi today.
Provincial police chief Kamal Shah said 25 foreigners were on the bus and others were boarding the bus when the bomb exploded. "This was a car bomb. This is a car, it's a 1974 Corolla car. So the bomb, it exploded, it [the car] was perhaps parked close to the bus, so it hit the bus, hence the casualties."
No one has claimed responsibility for the bombing.
French President Jacques Chirac condemned the attack and has ordered his defense minister to leave for Karachi today.