Twin explosions in Karachi, no casualties

Explosions heard in Lea Market area and near Shah Latif police station in Malir, two receive minor injuries.

KARACHI: Two minor explosions were reported in different areas of Karachi earlier Monday morning, but there were no reports of casualties.

The first explosion took place in the Lea Market area. Witnesses said the explosives were packed in a shopping bag. Two people received minor injuries in this blast.

The second explosion occurred outside Shah Latif police station in Malir. According to witnesses, the blast was a cracker blast which caused minor damage to a nearby building.

"Two low intensity bombs were planted close to the outer walls of police stations in Lea Market and Shah Latif neighbourhoods," senior police officer Tariq Alam Odho told AFP. "They exploded almost simultaneously during the morning rush hour, injuring a policeman and a woman passerby," he said, adding that shrapnel caused only minor wounds and damage to buildings.

No group has claimed responsibility. "It appears to be a militant attempt to trigger fear among the police force," he said. Security forces have frequently been targeted in attacks by militants.

The Karachi Sadar Superintendent Police (SP) claimed there are no casualties so far and that Bomb Disposal Squad is yet to ascertain the intensity of the blast.