Rangers soldiers patrol the street at the site of the bomb attack. PHOTO: REUTERS
KARACHI: Three people were killed and at least 11 others injured in triple blasts in the Nazimabad area of Karachi, Express News reported on Wednesday.
In the first incident, two consecutive cracker attacks on a check post killed a Rangers official and left six others injured.
The injured were taken to Abbasi Shaheed Hospital for medical treatment. One of the Rangers personnel, Atiqur Rahman, succumbed to his injuries.
Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) spokesperson Shahidullah Shahid has claimed responsibility for the attacks on Rangers in Karachi, Express News reported later in the day.
According to the police, the two cracker attacks took place within a span of 10 minutes, the first blast targeting a Rangers mobile.
"These were the IEDs which were installed in cement blocks targeting Rangers," senior police officer Amir Farooqi said to AFP.
Police arrested two suspects from the scene of the crime. DIG West Javed Odho said the investigation into the attack is ongoing. It was likely that one of the explosives had been planted at the scene, he added but could not confirm this till the filing of this report.
Two of the injured personnel were identified as Nadeem and Munir. A Chhipa ambulance driver, Zamir, was also injured.
The Bomb Disposal Squad (BDS) reached the scene of the blast shortly after the incident. Rangers had cordoned off the area when a third blast occurred in an area close by.
Third blast
A suicide blast targeting Rangers Headquarters in Nazimabad area left three dead and injured five others just a few hours after the first two attacks, Express News reported.
A school and a Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited (PTCL) office are located near the Rangers Headquarters.
Eyewitnesses said that the suicide bomber had attempted to enter the Rangers Headquarters but the explosive blew up before he could get inside.
"The suicide attacker walked in and tried to enter into the gate when he was intercepted by the security officials and he blew himself up," Farooqi told AFP.
A spokesman for the Rangers confirmed the toll. "The Rangers personnel who spotted and intercepted the suicide bomber will be awarded highest Rangers gallantry award," he added.
Six arrested in raid
Separately, six suspects including two belonging to banned outfits were arrested during a Rangers’ operation in Shah Latif Town, Karachi.
More than a thousand Rangers personnel took part in the operation and a large quantity of weapons and ammunition were also seized during the raid.
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