- Two killed in motorcycle bomb explosion outside Saleh Mosque in Arambagh area after Friday prayers
- Two Rangers personnel killed in suicide attack in North Nazimabad area
At least four people, including two Rangers personnel, were killed in two bombings that took place after Friday prayers outside the Saleh Mosque for Bohra community worshippers and in a suicide attack targeted at a Rangers vehicle later in the evening.
Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Police Abdul Khaliq Shaikh confirmed that two persons had died in the blast outside the mosque that took place in the precincts of Arambagh. He added that four people were injured, of which two are in critical condition. The deceased persons were identified as Shabbir and Hasnain, respectively.
DIG Shaikh said a timed explosive device was planted on a motorcycle. He lauded the police’s efforts to secure the mosque, and said heightened security prevented a high casualty attack.
Sources from Burhani Hospital near the blast site said that around three victims of the blast were brought to the hospital, but were later transferred to Civil Hospital as they appeared to be in critical condition.
A witness said that people were coming out of the mosque after Friday prayers when there was a huge blast and many people fell on the ground.
“I was inside the mosque when the bomb exploded and I saw people falling to the ground,” the man said.
Umer Khatab, a senior officer at the police Counter Terrorism Department, told reporters that about two kilogrammes (4.4 pounds) of explosives were used in the bomb, which was detonated with a timer.
“The bomb was planted to target the people coming out of the mosque,” Khatab said.
Nearby shops and buildings shook and window panes shattered due to the intensity of the blast. Plumes of smoke were seen rising from the scene of the blast.
Police officials said that security was heightened as per routine on Friday, as mosques and imambargahs have been under attack in recent months.
Condemning the blast, Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah sought a report on the incident from DIG Sindh.
Friday’s attack was the first on a Bohra mosque in Karachi since an incident three years ago, in which seven people were killed.
A large number of the Dawoodi Bohra community live in various areas of Pakistan, their density being in the metropolis of Karachi. The community is a sub-sect of Shia Islam.
RANGERS VEHICLE TARGETED:
Separately, a Rangers vehicle was targeted with a bomb near Qalandria Chowk in North Nazimabad in which two paramilitary officials were killed and one other was injured.
The deceased officials have been identified as Qasim and Yaar Mohammad.
A police official said that it was a suicide blast targeting Rangers mobile. Two civilians were also injured in the blast and were identified as Akram and Syeda.
The explosion was so loud that it was heard in far-reaching areas of North Nazimabad and F B Area. Following the attack panic spread in the area as people rushed to safety.
