Karachi: Two killed in suicide attack on foreign nationals

SSP Tariq Mastoi said that police had foiled the attack by acting dilligently. He confirmed that a vehicle carrying foreign nationals had been targeted but all four foreigners inside had remained safe.

The SSP added that the foreigners were travelling to the Landhi Export Processing Zone.

Mastoi said that a total of three attackers had been involved in the incident including a suicide bomber on a motorcycle. He added that one attacker had been killed by firing from the police while the third had managed to flee the scene.

The injured security guards and the dead bodies have been transferred to Jinnah Hospital.

Initial reports suggest the vehicle belonged to foreigners. Reuters later reported that the van was carrying Japanese nationals.

“We received information about the presence of terrorists in the same area a few days ago,” a source in the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) stated.

Images from the scene showed what looked like body parts of the suicide bomber and a dead body of another person lying on the ground.

Windows of the van carrying foreigners was shattered. It’s airbag had been deployed due to the crash.

Eyewitness account

A security official who survived the attack said that the foreigners wer travelling as a three-vehicle convoy.

He added that a security vehicle led the way, while four foreigners were in a van behind them followed by an SUV which also carried foreigners.

The security official confirmed that only the van carrying the foreigners had been targeted and security had immediately pushed back the SUV to keep it safe.

He said that there had been a loud explosion followed by intense firing from the attackers.

He added that police had immediately arrived on the scene and engaged the attackers, killing one of them.