2 killed, 18 injured in Karachi blast
Blast occurred when bus with Imamia Students Organisation (ISO) members on board was passing by.
KARACHI:
At least two people were killed and 18 people injured in a blast near the Safari Park in Karachi, Express News reported on Friday.
The blast had occurred when a bus was passing by the area. Passengers on board were on their way to participate in a rally on MA Jinnah Road.
"A low-intensity bomb planted near a bus stand in Gulistan-e-Jauhar neighbourhood exploded and hit a car and a bus," senior police official Shahid Hayat told AFP.
"The bomb killed a man in the car and injured 11 others, most of whom were bus passengers," Hayat said.
All of the injured were shifted to Jinnah hospital where doctors declared that most of them are in serious condition.
Dr Seemin Jamali, the Director of Emergency Services at Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC) stated that two injured who were in critical condition have been shifted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU).
There is no confirmation on the nature of the blast as yet. The Express News correspondent has reported that ball bearings had pierced through the arms, legs and chests of the passengers.
Initial reports stated that the passengers were students of Imamia Students Organisation (ISO) who were headed to the rally. More than 20 people were on board.
The Youm-e-Quds rally was scheduled to begin from Numaish Chowrangi and conclude at Tibet Centre.
The bus was partially destroyed as a result of the blast. A Karachi Electric Supply Company (KESC) sub-station located outside Safari Park was also damaged in the blast.
Other participants of the rally at the blast site are being sent off in buses.
"We can't say it was aimed at the bus as the bomb mainly hit the car. But we are investigating," said a police official on the condition of anonymity.
Law enforcement agencies arrived and started conducting investigations.
Sindh Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah sought a report from the Inspector General (IG) of Police.
Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Javed Maher said that an additional contingent of police was deployed at the blast site.
Participants at the rally site staged a protest and chanted slogans against the incident.
The protesters said that proper security was not provided to the participants despite bus routes being known.
A protester said that it was a "conspiracy of the United States and Israel" and declared that the rally will be carried out as scheduled.
According to Express News, Youm-e-Quds is being observed and many rallies are being taken out in this regard. The rally is organised every year on the last Friday of Ramazan.
At least two people were killed and 18 people injured in a blast near the Safari Park in Karachi, Express News reported on Friday.
The blast had occurred when a bus was passing by the area. Passengers on board were on their way to participate in a rally on MA Jinnah Road.
"A low-intensity bomb planted near a bus stand in Gulistan-e-Jauhar neighbourhood exploded and hit a car and a bus," senior police official Shahid Hayat told AFP.
"The bomb killed a man in the car and injured 11 others, most of whom were bus passengers," Hayat said.
All of the injured were shifted to Jinnah hospital where doctors declared that most of them are in serious condition.
Dr Seemin Jamali, the Director of Emergency Services at Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC) stated that two injured who were in critical condition have been shifted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU).
There is no confirmation on the nature of the blast as yet. The Express News correspondent has reported that ball bearings had pierced through the arms, legs and chests of the passengers.
Initial reports stated that the passengers were students of Imamia Students Organisation (ISO) who were headed to the rally. More than 20 people were on board.
The Youm-e-Quds rally was scheduled to begin from Numaish Chowrangi and conclude at Tibet Centre.
The bus was partially destroyed as a result of the blast. A Karachi Electric Supply Company (KESC) sub-station located outside Safari Park was also damaged in the blast.
Other participants of the rally at the blast site are being sent off in buses.
"We can't say it was aimed at the bus as the bomb mainly hit the car. But we are investigating," said a police official on the condition of anonymity.
Law enforcement agencies arrived and started conducting investigations.
Sindh Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah sought a report from the Inspector General (IG) of Police.
Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Javed Maher said that an additional contingent of police was deployed at the blast site.
Participants at the rally site staged a protest and chanted slogans against the incident.
The protesters said that proper security was not provided to the participants despite bus routes being known.
A protester said that it was a "conspiracy of the United States and Israel" and declared that the rally will be carried out as scheduled.
According to Express News, Youm-e-Quds is being observed and many rallies are being taken out in this regard. The rally is organised every year on the last Friday of Ramazan.