Lyari grenade attack case registered

Police doubt involvement of extortionists

KARACHI:

Police in the crime-infested Lyari town have registered a case against unidentified persons for lobbing a grenade on Monday night at the home of a used clothing trader, Ali Wali, in Bihar Colony.

A woman, Razia Muhammad Ali, was killed and seven people, including two children, were injured in the attack at the house located within the remits of Chakiwara police station.

The injured were identified as six-year-old Adil, eight-year-old Atiqa Nazia, 45-year-old Khairullah, 22-year-old Zohaib, Muhammad Faisal and Ehsan Nabi.

Police say it was possible that the actual target was not the house, but a shop next to it. The assailants riding a bike must have overshot the target and instead of the shop, hit the house.

Also read: Two cops arrested over extortion charges

Chakiwara police registered the case under Anti-Terrorism Act and Explosives Act against unknown accused on behalf of the state.

Crime Scene Unit and Bomb Disposal Squad personnel reached the blast site on Monday night. According to the bomb disposal squad, an RGD one-hand grenade containing 65 grammes of explosive material was used in the attack.

Pieces of hand grenades were collected from the spot.

SSP Amjad Hayat said that a grenade attack was carried out on a shop while the shop was closed at the time of the attack. It is too early to say what the attackers' target was.

Read more: Extortion resurfaces in Karachi

SSP said that at time of grenade attack, electricity supply was suspended in the area and due to this reason, the recording in the CCTV cameras installed around could not be done.

SSP said that the police have conducted geo-fencing of the area and it is hoped that the police will soon get a clue about the accused and their target. Police are investigating various aspects in this regard.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 18^th, 2023.