KARACHI, June 14: The provincial home department, in a press note, said that ten people, including five women and a constable, were killed and 51 others, including eight policemen, were injured in a bomb blast outside the US Consulate on Abdullah Haroon Road.

The press note issued late on Friday night stated that on June 14 at 11:10am, routine traffic was in motion between Hoshang Chowk and Metropole Hotel. As vehicles were passing in front of check-post no 3 of the US Consulate (adjacent to Marriott Hotel), a bomb blast occurred.

It is suspected that one of the passing vehicles was used as a carriage for the bomb which was blown into pieces by the force of the explosion.

The blast created a crater 13 feet in diameter and two-feet- two-inches deep on the surface of the road. A 10-foot portion of the wall of the US Consulate that was adjacent to the blast also collapsed.

No injuries have been reported from within the consulate or the adjacent Marriott Hotel.

Ten persons, including five women and one constable who was on duty were killed, while 51 persons, including eight police officials, were injured. Sixteen persons were admitted to the hospital, while others were discharged after primary medical care.

Thirteen cars and five motorbikes were damaged at the spot. The blast also damaged the windowpanes of the adjacent buildings including Marriott Hotel, US Consulate, Sindh Club and Metropole Hotel.

Special investigation teams have been constituted to track down the perpetrators of the crime.

Meanwhile, the provincial police chief, while talking to journalists at Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre, said the bomb exploded in a car as it was in motion, unlike the May 8 blast that happened near Sheraton Hotel. To a question, he said: “Thank God, the diplomats and foreigners are safe!”