A vehicle is seen on fire at the scene of an explosion that injured people and destroyed a vehicle outside Karachi Airport, Pakistan, Sunday, October 6, 2024. Photo credit: AP
A massive explosion outside Pakistan’s Karachi airport on Sunday (October 6, 2024) killed two people and injured at least eight others, officials said.
Police and the provincial government said the tanker exploded outside Pakistan’s largest airport.
However, state interior minister Zia ul Hassan told local TV station Geo that the attack was aimed at foreigners.
An Interior Ministry official told The Associated Press that the attack was against Chinese nationals, one of whom was injured. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the media.
Security officials inspect a damaged vehicle at the scene of an explosion that injured people and destroyed a vehicle outside Karachi Airport, Pakistan, Monday, Oct. 7, 2024. Photo credit: AP
Pakistan has thousands of Chinese workers, most of them involved in Beijing’s multibillion-dollar Belt and Road Initiative, which connects South and Central Asia with the Chinese capital.
Video showed flames engulfing the car and a column of thick smoke rising from the scene. A large-scale military deployment took place at the scene and the area was cordoned off.
Deputy Inspector General Azfar Mahesar told the media that it appeared to be an oil tanker explosion.
“We are determining the nature and reason of the explosion. It will take time.” A police officer was among the injured.
The interior minister and the inspector general also visited the explosion site, but did not speak to the press.
Rahat Hussain, who works at the Civil Aviation Authority, said the explosion was so loud it shook the airport building.
issued – October 7, 2024 1:23 AM IST
