(Ahlul Bayt News Agency) - A blasts occurred on Sunday evening in the Shia-dominated Abbas Town, Karachi, which left at least 45 martyred and over 135 injured. The injured and deceased included women and children. Eighteen of the martyrs belonged from AhleSunnat sect.
The Saudi-funded terrorists of Lashkar-i-Jhangvi used a car containing explosives was detonated at the entrance of Iqra City (ahead of Abbas Town) and demolished two apartment buildings (150 residential flats) and nearby shops. Bomb Disposal Squad officials determined that a 150kg device was used.
A suspect was handed over to Rangers by residents of Abbas Town. He was reported to be from Peshawar and told the police that he had two accomplices on back-up.
Police IG Fayyaz Leghari said a suicide bomber may have been behind the attack.
This is the second blast that has shaken Abbas Town in the span of four months.
A blast took place in November of last year near an Imambargah in Abbas town, which martyred two people and injured over a dozen men, including two Rangers personnel.
There were reports that several residents died inside their apartments because of the sheer impact of the blast and injuries caused by shrapnel.
At least three bodies buried in the rubble were retrieved by rescue workers by late night but there were fears that more bodies could still be there.
The balconies on the upper floors were also blown off and flames were leaping out from apartment on the fourth floor.
According to initial estimates, 40 to 50 apartments were destroyed and over 10 shops flattened.
Law-enforcement officials stayed away from the place for quite some time after the blast.
East Karachi DIG Aleem Jafri suspected that an explosive-laden vehicle might have been used.
“Over 150kg of high explosives laced with ball bearings were detonated by a time device,” he told Dawn, citing a report of the bomb disposal unit.
The blast left a four-foot deep crater of 10-foot circumference. An area of around 700 meters had been affected, the DIG said.
Police found an engine and some parts which indicated that a car had been used for the massive bombing. However, they didn’t find any particulars of the vehicle.
“About 45 deaths have occurred and as many as 135 wounded are in various hospitals. More than 70 patients have been admitted to the Aga Khan Hospital, 32 to Liaquat National Hospital, 17 to Abbasi Shaheed Hospital, 12 to the JPMC and one to Civil Hospital,” Sindh Health Secretary Dr Suresh Kumar said.
Most of the injured were first taken to the nearby Patel Hospital.
The Aga Khan and Liaquat National Hospitals were overwhelmed by the injured needing immediate treatment.
JPMC Deputy Director Dr Seemin Jamali said 18 bodies had been brought there and a young boy, Qasim, was in critical condition.
Some relatives were seen frantically searching for their loved ones in different hospitals till late in the night.
Some bodies were charred beyond recognition, rescue workers said.
Several bodies had been taken to cold storages in different Imambargahs by midnight.
Various Shia organisations called for a strike on Monday to register their protest against the attack.
The Majlis Wehdat-i-Muslimeen endorsed the strike call and announced three days of mourning.
The Sindh government and Muttahida Qaumi Movement also announced a day of mourning on Monday.
The representative associations of traders, private schools and transport also announced a closure on Monday.
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4 March 2013 - 04:20
News ID: 396598
KARACHI: At least 45 people, many women and children among them, were killed and over 135 injured in a massive bombing in the city’s Shia-dominated neighbourhood of Abbas Town on Sunday evening.
