KARACHI: A massive explosion outside Pakistan’s Karachi airport on Sunday killed two workers from China and injured at least eight others, officials from both countries said.
Police and the provincial government said the tanker exploded outside Pakistan’s largest airport.
According to a statement from the Chinese embassy, a convoy carrying Chinese employees of the privately run Port Qasim Electric Power Company was attacked around 11 p.m., killing two Chinese nationals and injuring one. There were also casualties among Pakistanis.
State Interior Minister Zia ul-Hassan told local TV station Geo that the explosion was an attack targeting foreigners.
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.
A Chinese statement called the explosion a “terrorist attack” and said China was working with Pakistan to deal with the aftermath. He called for a thorough investigation to bring the perpetrators to justice and called on Chinese nationals in the country to take safety measures.
“The Chinese embassy and consulate general in Pakistan strongly condemn this terrorist attack and express deep condolences to the innocent victims of both countries,” the statement said.
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,” he said, adding that 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 media.
Rahat Hussain, who works at the Civil Aviation Authority, said the explosion was so loud it shook the airport building.
