Tragedy averted: Bomb planted along procession route explodes with no one around

BDS officials defused a second explosive device planted near the first.

KARACHI: A low intensity bomb went off in Gulistan-e-Jauhar early on Sunday while bomb disposal squad defused a second bomb planted near the first.

According to initial details, a bomb planted near Amroha Society gate in Gulistan-e-Jauhar went off with a loud bang at around 12:30am, shortly after cellular services became partially operational in the city.

A heavy contingent of law enforcers rushed to the site and called the bomb disposal squad.

Gadap division SSP Rao Anwar said the bomb had been planted to target Muharram mourners, but fortunately, the procession had been diverted from its designed route. The officer confirmed that no loss of life or property occurred in the blast.

Asked about the explosives, Anwar said that the device was constructed using locally made explosives and had been planted on the green belt between the roads.

While sweeping the area, BDS experts found another low intensity bomb near the initial blast site. BDS experts immediately defused the bomb. Law enforces cordoned off the entire locality to avoid any untoward incident.

SSP Anwar said that at the moment, nothing could be said about those who planted the . However, he suspected that the people who were behind the Orangi Town and Abbas Town blasts could be responsible for Saturday's bombs.

Further investigation were underway till the filing of this report.