Three foreign nationals killed, 17 injured in blast near Karachi airport

At least three foreign nationals were killed while 17 others were injured after a massive explosion near Karachi’s Jinnah International Airport, ARY News reports.

Sindh Home Minister Zia Ul Hasan Lanzar suspects that the blast could be an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) attack.

Quoting sources, Geo News said that the sound of the explosion was heard in various areas of the city including Karimabad, Defense and Jamshed Road.

Initial reports suggested that an oil tanker exploded, causing several vehicles at the scene to burst into flames. Besides this, law enforcement agencies and fire brigade personnel have reached the spot.

Deputy Inspector General East, Azfar Mahesar explained the situation and said that “As per preliminary information, a fire broke out in an oil tanker which spread to several other vehicles, causing heavy damage.”

“We are determining whether there was an element of terrorism involved which we cannot rule out at this time,” he/she said, according to Reuters.

Notably, all the injured were shifted to Jinnah Hospital for emergency treatment. The explosion occurred near Karachi’s Jinnah International Airport on Sunday, sending thick clouds of smoke across the area.

Police, Rangers and rescue teams immediately reached the spot to secure the area and assist the affected people. The causes of the explosion are being investigated.

Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah has sought a detailed report from the police chief on the incident and directed officials to ensure best medical treatment for the injured.