Police truck escapes IED attack

The bomb hit a rickshaw, and killed an auto-parts store owner while injuring five others

KARACHI: An auto-part shop owner was killed and five others – including a mother and her ten-year-old daughter – were wounded when an improvised explosive device (IED) went off in the Korangi area of Karachi on Tuesday night.

Police said the target of the blast was a truck, carrying at least 35 commandos of the Special Protection Group (SPG); however, the police commandos remained unhurt in the attack.

“The SPG truck was the target but it escaped as the bomb exploded seconds before it reached close to the site; however the bomb hit a rickshaw, injuring its travellers,” said police official Rao Iqbal. “If the bomb had exploded timely, it would have proved deadly for the commandos.”

“The commandos were on their way to their base at Ibrahim Hyderi. They were returning after completing their duties at Bilawal House,” said the SPG official DSP Ziauddin. “Some bullets were also fired at the truck but fortunately all of our jawans remained safe.”

Police officials said it was the commandos’ regular route and the terrorists while taking advantage of it did their job with proper homework.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 26^th, 2014.