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3 Chinese nationals among 4 dead in suicide attack at Karachi University
At least four people, including three Chinese nationals, were killed while four others were injured in a suicide attack outside the University of Karachi’s (KU) Confucius Institute, officials said on Tuesday.
Sindh IG Mushtaq Ahmed Mahar confirmed the death toll in a telephone call with Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah. A handout from the CM’s office quoted the officer as saying that the blast took place at approximately 2:30pm.
The banned Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) claimed responsibility for the attack.
A spokesperson for the university confirmed that three of the victims were Chinese nationals. They were identified as Confucius Institute Director Huang Guiping, Ding Mupeng, Chen Sai and Khalid, the driver.
The spokesperson also identified two of the injured as Wang Yuqing and Hamid.
“Academic activities and public dealings will remain suspended at KU on Wednesday (tomorrow) to mourn the loss of the Confucius Institute’s faculty members,” the spokesperson said.
Earlier in the day, SSP East Syed Abdul Rahim Sherazi had hinted that a “couple” of Chinese nationals, who were part of KU faculty, were among the deceased.
Television footage showed a white van in flames with plumes of smoke rising from its remains while the windows of nearby buildings were shattered. The van appeared to be turning towards the Confucius Institute, located next to the commerce department, when the incident took place.
CCTV footage of the attack showed a burqa-clad woman standing outside the entrance of the Confucius Institute. The woman detonated herself just as the van neared the institute’s entrance.
Ball bearings found
Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) official Raja Umar Khattab said that the suicide attack was carried out by a woman, adding that ball bearings were found at the site of the blast.
He said the van was properly guarded as a Rangers team was escorting it which was why an improvised explosive device (IED) was not used instead.
Responding to a question, the CTD official said he did not believe a security lapse was the reason behind the attack since thousands of students were coming and going out of the university and checking each of them was a problem.
Karachi police chief Ghulam Nabi Memon said that it was unfortunate that teachers had been targeted. Speaking to the media, he said that four others had been injured, including a Chinese national, a private security guard and a Rangers personnel.
Memon said that a Rangers team was accompanying the Chinese nationals. Asked whether a threat had been issued prior to the attack, the senior officer said that there was “always a threat”.
He said tight security arrangements were already in place at the varsity, adding that any lapses would be “revisited”. “Give us time to look at the CCTV footage and interview witnesses,” he said.
Speaking to the media earlier, DIG East Muqaddas Haider, said initial information showed the van was headed to the institute after leaving the hostel.
“The explosion took place at the van’s right side at the [institute’s] entrance. We are still establishing what type of explosion it was,” Haider said, confirming that four people had been killed.
