KARACHI - A Rangers constable and a security guard of a private bungalow were injured, while at least four vehicles damaged, in a bomb blast near the Chinese Consulate in Karachi’s high-security zone on Monday.
The high-intensity explosion rocked the vicinity near Abdullah Shah Ghazi’s shrine in Block-4, Old Clifton, within the limits of Boat Basin Police Station.
Following the explosion, a heavy contingent of law-enforcers including Rangers, police and experts of Bomb Disposal Squad (BDS) reached the site to collect the evidence.
The explosion wounded two men and also damaged a car and three motorcycles. The injured were rushed to the hospital by the residents of the area before the arrival of law enforcement agencies personnel.
The BDS experts said it was a time device fixed in a motorbike parked near the Chinese Consulate, adding ball bearings were not used in the explosion.
It is pertinent to mention that the modus operandi of the recent blasts was similar to this one, but the device used in the latest attack did not carry the pellets with the explosive. At least one kilogram explosive material had been used in the bomb exploded by a time device.
Sindh IGP Fayyaz Leghari announced Rs1 million as reward for providing information regarding the terrorist involved in the blast.
On the other hand, according to some media reports, Lashkar-e-Balochistan has claimed responsibility for the attack and said the Rangers personnel were the target. Earlier, Lashkar-e-Balochistan had claimed responsibility through media for the bomb attack at the bus carrying SUPARCO employees on Hub River Road.
According to District South SSP Asif Ejaz Sheikh, the motorcycle, in which bomb was planted, had no criminal record. Police have traced the whereabouts of the owner of the motorcycle, bearing registration number KEG-3252.
Police sources say the motorcycle is owned by Khalil, a resident of Landhi, and they have also conducted raid at his residence, from where two suspects were arrested, while further investigation has been launched.
Clifton SP Dr Farrukh Ahmed, while quoting the injured Rangers personnel, said a suspected man was trying to park the motorcycle at the parking area and escaped when they tried to intercept him.
Meanwhile, the BDS defused another device planted on a motorcycle parked near the Chinese Consulate on Monday night.
The BDS sources said the bomb, weighting around three kilogrammes, was planted in a motorcycle parked near the consulate, adding that it was connected with the detonator.
Police officials said the bomb was recovered on the information of the residents. They said initial investigation suggested that the Rangers personnel, deployed near the motorcycle, could be the target.
Bomb goes off near China Karachi mission, another defused