2006年VOA标准英语-Bomb Blast in Karachi Kills at Least 56 Pe

By Ayaz Gul
Islamabad
11 April 2006

Pakistani Muslims devotees stand at the site after a bomb explosion in Karachi, Pakistan on Tuesday, April 11, 2006   
  
A powerful bomb explosion at a religious gathering¹ of Sunni Muslims in Pakistan has killed at least 56 people and injured dozens.

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The bombing occurred at a public park in the southern city of Karachi, where thousands of Sunni Muslims had gathered to celebrate the birth anniversary of Islam's Prophet Mohammed.

Initial reports suggest the bomb was planted under a stage and went off while the crowed was offering a prayer to mark the end of the ceremony.

Federal Interior Minister Aftab Ahmed Sherpao says that the powerful explosion instantly killed dozens of worshipers.

"There are a number of casualties in this [attack]," he says. "The injured have been taken to [Karachi's] Civil Hospital and Jinnah Post-Graduate Hospital.  But we are still waiting for the details."

Witnesses say that scenes of mass confusion broke out after the explosion in the park.  Television pictures showed bodies lying on the ground and wounded being taken to hospitals in vans after the explosion.

Police fired into the air to disperse² crowds that gathered at the scene.  Reports say angry mobs burned cars and pelted³ security forces with stones after the blast. 

There were no immediate⁴ claims of responsibility, but sectarian violence between Sunni and minority Shi'ite Muslims has killed hundreds of people in Pakistan in recent years.  Early this year, at least 40 people were killed when a suicide bomber⁵ attacked a Shi'ite procession in northwestern Pakistan.

Pakistani officials say that security experts are also investigating whether the attack was the work of a suicide bomber.  

1 gathering   

n.集会，聚会，聚集

参考例句：

• He called on Mr. White to speak at the gathering.他请怀特先生在集会上讲话。
• He is on the wing gathering material for his novels.他正忙于为他的小说收集资料。

2 disperse   

vi.使分散；使消失；vt.分散；驱散

参考例句：

• The cattle were swinging their tails to disperse the flies.那些牛甩动着尾巴驱赶苍蝇。
• The children disperse for the holidays.孩子们放假了。

3 pelted   

（连续地）投掷( pelt的过去式和过去分词 )； 连续抨击； 攻击； 剥去…的皮

参考例句：

• The children pelted him with snowballs. 孩子们向他投掷雪球。
• The rain pelted down. 天下着大雨。

4 immediate   

adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的

参考例句：

• His immediate neighbours felt it their duty to call.他的近邻认为他们有责任去拜访。
• We declared ourselves for the immediate convocation of the meeting.我们主张立即召开这个会议。

5 bomber   

n.轰炸机，投弹手，投掷炸弹者

参考例句：

• He flew a bomber during the war.他在战时驾驶轰炸机。
• Detectives hunting the London bombers will be keen to interview him.追查伦敦爆炸案凶犯的侦探们急于对他进行讯问。