Set ablaze by people reacting to the attack

More than a dozen vehicles and a four-storey building were also set ablaze by people reacting to the attack. Fazal Qureshi, chief editor of the Pakistan Press International news agency, told "These processions cover long distances, they were marching through the central road when suddenly the bomber blew himself up. "It is impossible to stop someone who is prepared to die. There is an atmosphere of fear throughout the city." "The Shia community would certainly have been the specific target of this attack, but there have been no claims of responsibility so far." "The Shia are in the minority but make up a significant number of Pakistanis. "They are woven into the fabric of Pakistan. However, they are under attack for their beliefs." Rehman Malik, the interior minister, has called for people to show restraint and asked that Shia processions over the next two days be cancelled following the attack. Talat Hussain, the director of news at the local TV, told  "Any number of groups come to mind who may have carried out the attack ... The game clearly is to disrupt Pakistan." Concerning the violent reaction to the strike, Hussain said: "People have been saying that the government has been apathetic to the listening to the warnings of potential attacks and people's fears." Pakistan had tightened security to protect mass processions ahead of Ashoura, deploying tens of thousands of police and paramilitary forces.