Bomb defused: After three bomb explosions a day earlier, authorities avert a fourth blast

IED was attached to a vehicle using magnetic device, which contained 800 grams of explosives.

KARACHI:

A day after three bomb blasts damaged two oil tankers at the Keamari oil terminal, another bomb was discovered on Wednesday.

On Tuesday evening, three oil tankers were partially damaged when three improvised explosive devices (IED) went off at the Keamari oil terminal. Two went off in the Keamari terminal whereas the third went off in Gulbai within the limits of Sher Shah police station. While the investigators were busy in ascertaining the culprits and the motives behind the attack they found on Wednesday, another bomb similar to the previous ones.

The IED was attached to an oil tanker at the terminal and the law enforcement agencies including the police, Rangers as well as the bomb disposal squad were called to defuse it. Law enforcers reached the site and cordoned off the area. "Initially, we tried to defuse the bomb but it was too hard," admitted an expert from the bomb disposal squad. "Finally, we burst the IED after covering it with sand bags." The sand bags minimised the intensity of the blast.  The expert also said that it was attached to a vehicle using a magnetic device, which contained around 800 grammes of explosives including ball bearings.

The police officials are so far unable to ascertain who is behind the attacks but they suspect that it may have been linked to extortion. "It would be premature to say anything as our investigation is still in progress," said SHO Idrees Bangash. "But it is clear that it is the same group who is responsible for planting all the bombs." No case has been registered so far and further investigations are underway.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 8^th, 2014.