The police and Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) have arrested three terrorists, including a woman, who were involved in a deadly blast that killed two Chinese nationals among three people near the Karachi airport, Sindh Home Minister Zia Ul Hassan Lanjar said on Monday.
“Javed alias Sami, who is the mastermind of the [airport] attack, and the woman facilitator Gul Nisa were arrested from RCD highway [which connects Karachi to Quetta],” the provincial minister said while addressing a press conference along with Inspector-General of police (IGP) Ghulam Nabi Memon.
Last month, a massive explosion occurred on a road near Jinnah International Airport, killing a total of three people and injuring at least 16 others, including another Chinese citizen. The police confirmed that it was a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device (VBIED), which also damaged approximately 15 vehicles.
According to the Bomb Disposal Squad’s (BDS) report, they have found that the terrorists used 70-80 kilogrammes of explosives, which were planted in a double-cabin vehicle. As the Chinese convoy approached the airport signal, the attacker crashed the explosives-laden vehicle into the coaster carrying the Chinese nationals.
Giving details of the incident, Lanjar said that the attack was aimed at disrupting Pakistan-China relations and sabotaging the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project. Play Video
He pointed out that the investigation revealed Javed’s direct involvement in the suicide bombing, while Gul Nisa had facilitated him.
He said that the investigators recovered the chassis number and registration plate, which belonged to a double-cabin vehicle, from the spot.
The home minister added that the vehicle, used in the attack, was purchased for Rs7.1 million from a showroom in Karachi and transferred under the suicide bomber’s name. “The payment was transferred through a private bank in Hub, Balochistan,” he added.
Lanjar further said that the suicide bomber, Shah Fahad, was identified through his fingerprints “since his face and much of his torso were burnt during the explosion.”
Citing further investigation, he said that the suicide bomber had arrived in Karachi in the same vehicle along with a woman on Oct 4, and stayed at a local hotel in Saddar.
During the night of the attack, the minister said, Javed — who was inside the airport — alerted the attacker via phone when the Chinese convoy exited the airport.
