Bomb destroys Pakistan police headquarters

A bomb in the centre of Pakistan's largest city levelled a multi-storey police building today, killing at least five people and wounding 40.

The blast hit the headquarters of the Crime Investigation Department in Karachi, creating a 10ft crater outside the building.

Police said the size of crater suggested the bomb was in a vehicle.

The building was in a high-security part of the city, not far from the heavily fortified US consulate, two hotels and government buildings, including the governor and the chief minister's residences.

TV footage showed bloodied victims leaving the scene and security officers searching through the debris of the police building.

Dr Seemi Jamai said five bodies had been brought to a nearby hospital, along with 40 injured. Other reports said 10 people were dead, and that the figure was likely to rise.

Pakistan is fighting Islamist militants with links to al Qaeda that are trying to overthrow the US-allied government. The insurgents have repeatedly bombed government, police and Western targets over the last three years.