Massive explosion targeting Chinese nationals jolts Pakistan's Karachi airport, 2 dead, 10 injured

At least one was killed and 10 injured in a massive explosion that occurred near the Karachi International Airport in Pakistan. The attack took place on Sunday night and the main target of the explosion was believed to be a convoy of dozens of Chinese travellers. Police and local media confirmed that the one killed in the attack was a Chinese national, Geo News reported.

While the nature of the blast was not immediately clear, Pakistani news outlet Geo News cited officials saying that it was a tanker that exploded outside the country’s biggest airport. Zia Lanjar, home minister for the southern Sindh province, which includes Karachi, told reporters that an improvised explosive device had targeted the convoy carrying Chinese nationals outside the airport.

#Karachi
🇵🇰#Explosion near Karachi airport, #Pakistan
🔹In these images, it can be seen that a car, including police cars, is burning.
While confirming the explosion, the Pakistani authorities have not yet provided any details. pic.twitter.com/ehPjBWn2es

— Mahmood Khan (@Mahmood88239370) October 6, 2024

More from World

Nepal's new PM pays homage to people died during the Gen Z protest in her first national address This Week in Explainers: How recovering from Gen-Z protests is a Himalayan task for Nepal

He assured that the injured victims of the attacks were rushed to a nearby hospital. Videos circulating online showed giant plumes of fire coming from several damaged vehicles as firefighters struggled to put out the blaze. Out of the 10 injured, authorities noted that two are in critical condition.

Outlawed BLA claims responsibility for the attack 

In a statement shared with the media, the outlawed Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) claimed the explosion was an attack carried out by them using a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device targeting “a high-level convoy of Chinese engineers and investors” coming from Karachi’s airport.

Impact Shorts

More Shorts

‘The cries of this widow will echo’: In first public remarks, Erika Kirk warns Charlie’s killers they’ve ‘unleashed a fire’

Trump urges Nato to back sanctions on Russia, calls for 50–100% tariffs on China

Rahat Hussain, who works in the civil aviation department noted that the blast was so big that it shook the building of the airport. The BLA, a separatist group in Pakistan is seeking independence for the province of Balochistan, located in the country’s south-west and bordering on Afghanistan and Iran. In August this year, the group launched a coordinated attack in the province killing over 70 people.

It is pertinent to note that BLA specifically targets Chinese interests, particularly those involved in the strategic port of Gwadar on the Arabian Sea. The group accused Beijing of helping Islamabad in exploiting the crucial resources in the province.

Sources at Jinnah International Airport noted that around 40 Chinese nationals arrived on a China Air flight at 9:46 pm (local time) and the explosion took place shortly after that, Geo News reported. Meanwhile, Pakistan’s Civil Aviation Authority said flights from Karachi continued “as usual” and “agencies are investigating the cause at the scene of the accident/explosion”.

With inputs from agencies.