Govt and police officials say bomber detonated explosives in a rickshaw in bid to target three govt vehicles
An explosion took place near a mosque in Delhi Colony area of Karachi on Friday, killing at least four persons including a woman and injuring more than 30 others.
Provincial Information Minister Sharjeel Memon told reporters that three government vehicles were damaged in the attack, adding that these vehicles were the apparent target of the blast.
The information minister said that there had been an escalation in such incidents after the expiry of ceasefire announced by the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).
Five auto rickshaws, 10 vehicles and scores of motorcycles were destroyed as a result of the blast whereas the windows of several nearby buildings were left shattered.
Ten kilograms of explosives were used in the explosion, sources in the bomb disposal unit said, adding that around the time of the explosion, a bus with employees of the official residence of the Sindh chief minister had left Masjid-i-Yasrab shortly after Friday prayers.
The sources said the attack was most likely aimed at the bus carrying the CM house employees, adding that the bomber who was in a rickshaw detonated his explosives before getting to its target.
Inspector General Sindh Iqbal Mehmood said the bus with the CM employees could have been the target of the attack.
Security personnel also claimed to have taken two suspects into custody who were shifted to an undisclosed location for further questioning.
According to initial reports, the blast took place near the location of a carpet showroom in the area which was situated between two mosques.
Other eyewitnesses said that the explosion occurred when people were leaving the mosques after offering Friday prayers. The casualties were shifted to the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre.
The loud explosion was heard in adjoining areas of Clifton, Gizri and several phases of Defence Housing Authority.
No group or individual had claimed responsibility for the incident till the filing of this report.
The incident comes a day after police officer Shafiq Tanoli and three others were killed in an explosion near Karachi’s old wholesale vegetable market.
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