3 Foreign Nationals Killed and 17 Injured in Blast Near Pakistan’s Karachi Airport

Karachi Airport: A huge explosion took place late at night near Jinnah International Airport in Karachi, Pakistan. According to a BBC report, two Chinese citizens died in the explosion. The Chinese Embassy has said that several Pakistani employees have been killed. The total number of deaths is not clear. The embassy said that the explosion was targeted at a convoy of Chinese engineers working on a power project in Sindh province. The separatist Balochistan National Army has claimed responsibility for the attack.

Attack by IED blast

Zio Sindh province’s Home Minister Zia ul Hassan Lanjar has suspected that an improvised explosive device (IED) was used for the blast. Geo News report has said that the sound of the explosion was heard in many areas of the city. All the injured have been admitted to Jinnah Hospital for treatment.

Talking to Geo News, Lanjar said that an investigation into the explosion has been started. He said that CCTV footage is being obtained. The provincial home minister claimed that ‘reports suggest that it was an IED blast.’ A police official said initial reports suggest that an oil tanker exploded, engulfing several vehicles present at the spot.

The blast took place at 11 pm.

Pakistani media outlet Aaj News reported that the blast took place around 11:00 pm on Sunday. It quoted Sindh Home Minister Ziaul Lanjar as saying that the explosion was carried out near the vehicles of foreign nationals. He said, ‘The explosion took place at the place where the bomb squad awaits its visitors and takes them to the destination.’

Aaj News reported that two foreign delegates were to arrive in the city. One security convoy was waiting for the vehicle at Ghadiya Chowk, while the other was inside the airport. The place where the explosion occurred is often where VIPs go to the guard to park their vehicles.

The Pakistan Airport Authority (PAA) said in a statement that the airport buildings and property were safe in the incident. The schedule of flights at the airport continues as normal. The PAA Director General has assured full cooperation in the rescue operations. Officials continue to investigate the incident and security has been beefed up in the area.