DHA attack not a suicide bombing: Rehman Malik

Milita­nt comman­ders reveal terror­ists operat­ing from Kunwar­i Colony and Itehad Town in Karach­i.

KARACHI: Interior Minister Rehman Malik has said that on the basis of the blast crater and other reports passed on to him by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), they could conclude that the bomb blast in Karachi on Monday was not a suicide attack.

Speaking to media men in Karachi, Malik said that contrary to earlier estimations, after investigating the crime scene, information gathered from interrogation of suspects, it was determined that the attack on Superintendent of Police (SP) Crime Investigation Department (CID) was a planted device.

Meanwhile, police said that they had received CCTV footage from the blast site moments before the attack.

Investigations by the Bomb Disposal squad revealed the use of RDX as the chief explosive agent in this attack.

Earlier, police arrested eight suspects from two areas of Karachi on Tuesday following the terrorist attack outside the residence of SP CID Chaudhry Aslam Khan, Express 24/7 reported.

Sources said that the police, investigating the attack, interrogated three commanders of banned outfit Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan at the central jail.

The commanders, during the questioning, revealed that the terrorists have spread their network in Karachi. They also revealed that top officers of the CID and their family members were their targets.

The commanders also disclosed that the terrorists were operating from Kunwari Colony and Itehad Town in the city.

The police raided these areas and arrested eight people allegedly involved in the blast.

Meanwhile, the statements of policemen who were injured in the blast were also recorded.

The bomb blast took place in the Defence Housing Authority area of Karachi which left eight people dead and several others injured when a vehicle carrying 300kgs of explosives rammed into the officer’s house early morning on Monday.

For pictures from the blast site, view slideshow here.