Karachi - Pistol-wielding gunmen in Pakistan's biggest city Karachi Wednesday stormed a bus carrying members of the Shia Ismaili minority, killing at least 43 in the first attack in the country officially claimed by the Islamic State group.
The IS claims, posted on Twitter, are set to raise fears over the Middle East-based jihadists' growing influence after they announced in January the creation of a branch in what they called "Khorasan province", encompassing Afghanistan, Pakistan and parts of surrounding countries.
"Thanks be to Allah, 43 apostates were killed and around 30 were wounded in an attack carried out by Islamic State soldiers on a bus transporting Shia Ismaili infidels in the city of Karachi," the extremist group said in an Arabic statement, citing a higher number of injured than Pakistani officials.
Pakistani police also found leaflets claiming IS responsibility at the scene of the attack in the city's eastern Malir district, while the home-grown Jundullah militant faction which some analysts' suspect of having ties to IS made a separate claim of responsibility to AFP.
Pakistan has experienced a rising tide of sectarian violence in recent years, particularly against Shias, who make up around 20 percent of the country's predominantly Muslim population of 200 million.
"According to the initial information which we have received from hospitals, 43 people have been killed and 13 wounded," Ghulam Haider Jamali, police chief of Sindh province told reporters at the site in the eastern district of Malir.
"Six terrorists came on three motorcycles, they entered the bus and began firing indiscriminately. They used 9mm pistols and all those killed and injured were hit by the 9mm pistols," he said.
Prince Karim Aga Khan, the spiritual leader of the world Ismaili community, confirmed the toll in a statement sent by his office in France.
"This attack represents a senseless act of violence against a peaceful community," the philanthropist and business magnate said.
The killings were also condemned by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, while the provincial government announced a day of mourning Thursday.
AFP
