In Pakistan, 45 Killed By Car Bomb Outside Shi'ite Mosque

An official in Pakistan’s government says the death toll from a massive car bomb that targeted a mainly Shi’ite area of Karachi has been raised to 45, as authorities sift through rubble left by the blast.

Hashim Raza Zaidi, the top government official in Karachi, said another 150 people were injured by the attack outside a Shi’ite mosque in the Abbas town area of Karachi.

The explosives blew the front off two five-story apartment buildings nearby, setting one on fire and trapping dozens of victims.

The latest in a series of apparent sectarian attacks came as Pakistan prepares for an upcoming general election.

Based on reporting by Reuters, AP, and AFP