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Rising threat of terrorist bomb blasts in Karachi--a 5-year study
Farhat Hussain Mirza1, Hamid Ali Parhyar, Syed Zubair Ahmed Tirmizi
1Department of Forensic Medicine, Dow University of Health Sciences, Karachi, Pakistan. captdrmirza@hotmail.com
Journal of Forensic and Legal Medicine
|August 6, 2013
Summary
Bomb blast injuries and fatalities in Karachi increased annually, with males aged 15-45 being the primary victims. Forensic analysis aids law enforcement in understanding these devastating events.
Area of Science:
- Forensic pathology and public health surveillance of blast injuries.
- Epidemiology of trauma and violence in urban settings.
Background:
- Terrorist bomb explosions pose a significant threat to public safety in urban centers.
- Understanding the patterns of injuries and fatalities is crucial for emergency response and public health strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the frequency of injuries and fatalities from terrorist bomb explosions in Karachi between 2007 and 2011.
- To identify age and sex vulnerabilities among victims of bomb blasts.
Main Methods:
- A descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted.
- Data were collected from mortuary and medicolegal records of three major hospitals in Karachi.
- Information on 1142 bomb blast victims (deaths and injuries) was analyzed for demographics, injury patterns, and causes of death.
Main Results:
- Bomb blasts accounted for 2.24% of autopsies and 0.66% of injury cases during the study period.
- Incidences showed a steady rise after 2008, with the highest number of injuries in 2010 and fatalities in 2007.
- Males aged 15-45 years constituted the majority of victims (95.18% male), with shock and head injuries being leading causes of death. Lower extremities were most frequently injured.
Conclusions:
- Bomb blast casualties and fatalities in Karachi show an increasing trend, with a clear vulnerability among males aged 15-45.
- Injury patterns suggest open-air bombing incidents.
- Accurate forensic certification is vital for supporting law enforcement investigations.
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