Nine Shias gunned down in Pakistan

Islamabad, April 14 (IANS) At least nine people, reportedly Shia Muslims, were killed and eight others injured Saturday in three sectarian attacks in Pakistan's Quetta city, media reports said.

One incident took place around 9.20 a.m. at Brewery Road when four people riding two motorbikes opened fire at a car carrying six people, Xinhua reported citing local media.

All six people inside the car and one passerby were killed in the attack. Four other people were injured.

Local media said the people inside the car were Shias.

Another person was killed and two others were injured in a second firing incident in Sabzal Road.

The third firing incident was reported from Shalkot area, in which one policeman was killed and two civilians were injured.

Police said all three incidents took place in areas close to each other, and could have been conducted by the same people.

Hospital officials said all the injured people were Shias.

The three incidents sparked a protest from the local Shia community. Angry mobs gathered outside the hospital and protested over the sectarian attacks on their compatriots. The mobs also torched one vehicle.