News
Monday, November 19, 2012
Three killed, over dozen injured in Karachi blast* Explosion caused by 5kg explosives fitted to motorbike parked outside an imambargah
KARACHI: At least three people were killed and over a dozen injured when a five-kilogramme improvised explosive device (IED) planted on a motorbike exploded near an imambargah in Abbas Town on Sunday.
According to witnesses, a young man on a motorcycle stopped at a milk shop and later disappeared. They said the blast occurred shortly after the suspect left the site after parking his explosives-laden motorbike near Imambargah Mustafa where a majlis was underway, within the Mobina Town Police Station precincts. The bomb was intended to be placed outside the imambargah. The improvised explosive device was exploded through a remote control, said a police official.
The blast also damaged an electricity PMT nearby that caused power blackout in the entire area. Subsequent firing was also reported in the area while angry protesters pelted stones on vehicles passing by.
The bodies and injured were first taken to nearby Patel Hospital and later shifted to different hospitals. Women, children and five Rangers personnel were also among the injured. According to hospital sources, some of the injured were in critical condition. Those killed were identified as Azhar Ali, Irfan Lai and Anwer.
Following the explosion, a heavy contingent of law enforcement personnel, including police, Bomb Disposal Squad (BDS), rescuers of welfare organisation and fire brigade, rushed to the site and cordoned off the area.
The Shia Majlis-e-Wahdatul Muslimeen condemned the incident and termed the attack a failure of the government and law enforcement agencies. MWM leaders said the blast was a conspiracy to incite sectarian clashes and announced three-day mourning.
Karachi Additional IG Iqbal Mehmood warned of more possible terrorist activities in the city while law enforcement agencies had already been put on high alert to avoid any untoward incident. Sindh Health Minster Dr Sagheer declared emergency in all hospitals. Sindh IG Fayyaz Leghari constituted initiated a four-member committee to probe the incident and sought a report in three days. Police have traced the whereabouts of the owner of the motorcycle, bearing registration number KSE-5038.
Meanwhile, President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf took strict notice of the bomb blast that resulted in loss of precious lives and injured many others.
Condemning the explosion, the leaders reiterated the resolve of the government to continue its struggle against militants and extremists. staff report/app
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk