Karachi: Bomb blast in Sohrab Goth kills four

KARACHI: At least four people were killed and several injured in a bomb blast here on Wednesday, Geo News reported.

The blast was reported from Al-Asif Square area located in Sohrab Goth,a hostile territory notorious for armed clashes, sources told Geo News.

Earlier, sources quoted police as saying the explosive device, planted in a motorcycle, detonated outside a mosque, however the cops later withdrew their earlier statement claiming the bomb actually went off near a drug dealers' den.

According to sources investigation was underway to ascertain as to who was the target of the bombing.

The identity of the culprits and the motive behind the attack were yet not figured out.

The dead and the injured were shifted to hospital, emergency responders told sources.

Security officials wasted no time in reaching the blast site to secure it.

Fearing the possibility of more explosive devices hidden around, they launched a search operation to clear the area so that any secondary explosions could be avoided, which paid.

According to sources, another lethal load of detonable material was found stuffed inside a taxi parked nearby. The bomb disposal squad successfully defused it averting what could have been one of the deadliest of all bombings in Karachi.

"There was at least 300 kilograms of high-energy explosive material in the core of the device with tonnes of shrapnel around them ready to explode anytime soon", said a bomb disposable expert.

The blast-stricken area remains cordoned off with Rangers and police standing alert to control the situation.

Meanwhile, a cracker attack left two people, including a Sub Inspector of Police, injured in the same area.

Reportedly a police party deployed on a picket came under attack near Edhi’s mortuary in Sohrab Goth.

Sources said unknown attackers hurled at least two crackers at the cops near Sohrab Goth flyover and fled away.

"We heard two blasts in the vicinity, which prompted us to rush to the scene where we found two people injured including a police officer", rescue sources told Geo News.