Eight-year-old killed in blasts near imambargah in Karachi

Orangi SP Sajid Sadozai says the same imambargah was targeted in a similar manner a few months ago

KARACHI: An eight-year-old boy was killed while twelve others including five children were wounded in back-to-back explosions in Orangi town on Saturday night.

Police and witnesses said that a contingent of police and rangers had reached the site following two low intensity explosions near Jafria Imambargah in Qasba Colony within the limits of Pirabad police station. The law enforcement agencies were busy cordoning off the area when a third explosion took place.

As a result of the third explosion, eight-year-old Aqib was killed and around one dozen including at least five children were wounded. The victims were moved to Abbasi Shaheed Hospital.

SHO Fasiuz Zaman said the first two explosions were caused by hand grenades thrown by motorcyclists near the imambargah while the third was an improvised explosive device (IED).

Zaman said the victims of the blast were residents of Orangi town and were were on their way to a wedding function on a bus when the blast took place.

Bomb disposal (BD) squad experts also reached the site to collect evidence. BD experts said that the IED contained around half a kilogramme of explosives, including ball bearings, and was planted at a garbage dump.

Police and Rangers cordoned off the area while further investigation was underway. Orangi SP Sajid Sadozai told The Express Tribune that the actual target of the bombings has yet to be ascertained, adding that most of the victims were children. The officer said the same imambargah was targeted in a similar manner a few months ago. No case has been registered till the filing of this report.