Two killed, 16 injured in twin blasts near Karachi Imambargah

KARACHI: Two persons were killed and sixteen others sustained wounds in twin bomb blasts near an Imambargah in Orangi Town number 5, Geo News reported Wednesday.

The second blast, caused by a planted device, occurred at the same spot 40 minutes after the first explosion - a suicide attack - left one dead and ten others injured.

Raja Umer Khitab SSP Special Investigation Unit (SIU) said ball bearings were used in both the blasts while the second one was an Improvised Explosives Device (IED) planted in the area.

Six persons were injured in the second explosion. Media men including a Geo News cameraman and a female reporter of a private channel are among the injured besides mourners present there to attend a congregation at the Imambargah and security personnel present on the blast site.

Rangers have cordoned off the area surrounding the spot of the twin explosions.

DIG West, Javed Odho has confirmed that a rickshaw driver was killed in the first blast and ten others injured. The target of the attack could have been the Imambargah but the bomber missed it, as the motorcycle collided with a rikshaw before reaching the target, he said.

Ambulances have whisked away the dead and injured to Abbasi Shaheed Hospital, sources said.

The blasts damaged several shops and vehicles outside the Imambargah where members of the forensic team are now collecting evidence.