Grenade attack in Karachi leaves child dead, 9 injured

Assailants riding on motorcycle lob grenade from a flyover

KARACHI: A nine-month-old girl lost her life while eight others, including women, were wounded when a hand grenade detonated near an Imambargah on Tuesday night.

Initial reports revealed that assailants riding on motorcycle lobbed the grenade from a flyover. The device fell down on the road close to the gate of Islamic Research Centre (IRC) Imambargah and detonated near a group of women who were standing at its gate to attend a Muharram majlis

After the blast, the victims were taken to different hospitals – including Abbasi Shaheed Hospital and Aga Khan University Hospital (AKUH) – for treatment.

Although police and doctors did not confirm any death till the filing of the report, Majlis-e-Wahdat-e-Muslimeen’s (MWM) spokesperson Ali Ahmar claimed that a nine-month-old child, Batool, died during treatment at AKUH.

Following the blast, charged mob gathered on the main Shahrah-e-Pakistan, burnt tyres and blocked the road for traffic. Protesters shouted slogans against militant groups and law enforcement agencies.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 29^th, 2014.