Police targeted: Taliban claim responsibility for Karachi suicide attack
TTP claims responsibility for attack targeting SSP Malir Rao Anwar.
KARACHI:
Four people were killed and up to 12 were injured on Thursday when the suicide bomber rammed his motorbike in an armoured personnel carrier in the Malir Halt area.
The Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan claimed responsibility for the attack.
Brigadier Javed Iqbal of Pakistan Rangers confirmed that it was a suicide attack.
The armoured personnel carrier belonging to Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Malir Rao Anwar's convoy was targetted in the attack.
“The attack was against me. I was moving with my squad in Malir Halt district when the explosion took place. I am unhurt, but some of my men have been injured,” Anwar told AFP.
He claimed to have been threatened for a month by “unknown terrorists”.
Police officials escaped unhurt while the people present at the site died and sustained injuries.
Anwar was also involved in last December's raid on a self-styled seminary, where officers said they rescued students, including children as young as seven chained up in the basement, who said they had been regularly beaten.
SSP Anwar was on his way to court over the inquiry into the murder of ex-Malir Bar Association president Salahuddin. The banned outfit Sipah-e-Sahaba was strongly suspected.
The blast occurred near Afshan Printing Press.
Ball bearings were also used in the blast, which left dents in the armoured personnel carrier. One front tyre of the APC exploded.
Approximately 5 to 6kgs explosives were used in the blast.
The injured have been shifted to Jinnah Post Graduate Medical Centre. The police are facing a challenge identifying three bodies sent to JPMC because they are believed to be of beggars.
BSD and rescue teams had reached the blast site and had cordoned off the area.
One suspect has been arrested for investigation.
Nearby shops have been closed down.
Earlier, it was reported that Edhi sources had claimed that they had heard another blast, in the Malir 15 area. However, no official sources had confirmed the news.
Four people were killed and up to 12 were injured on Thursday when the suicide bomber rammed his motorbike in an armoured personnel carrier in the Malir Halt area.
The Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan claimed responsibility for the attack.
Brigadier Javed Iqbal of Pakistan Rangers confirmed that it was a suicide attack.
The armoured personnel carrier belonging to Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Malir Rao Anwar's convoy was targetted in the attack.
“The attack was against me. I was moving with my squad in Malir Halt district when the explosion took place. I am unhurt, but some of my men have been injured,” Anwar told AFP.
He claimed to have been threatened for a month by “unknown terrorists”.
Police officials escaped unhurt while the people present at the site died and sustained injuries.
Anwar was also involved in last December's raid on a self-styled seminary, where officers said they rescued students, including children as young as seven chained up in the basement, who said they had been regularly beaten.
SSP Anwar was on his way to court over the inquiry into the murder of ex-Malir Bar Association president Salahuddin. The banned outfit Sipah-e-Sahaba was strongly suspected.
The blast occurred near Afshan Printing Press.
Ball bearings were also used in the blast, which left dents in the armoured personnel carrier. One front tyre of the APC exploded.
Approximately 5 to 6kgs explosives were used in the blast.
The injured have been shifted to Jinnah Post Graduate Medical Centre. The police are facing a challenge identifying three bodies sent to JPMC because they are believed to be of beggars.
BSD and rescue teams had reached the blast site and had cordoned off the area.
One suspect has been arrested for investigation.
Nearby shops have been closed down.
Earlier, it was reported that Edhi sources had claimed that they had heard another blast, in the Malir 15 area. However, no official sources had confirmed the news.