KARACHI, Apr 26:
A burqa-clad woman suicide bomber struck a van inside the premises of the University of Karachi in Pakistan’s financial capital, killing three Chinese nationals and their local driver, in what is believed be the latest targeted attack against Chinese citizens.
The banned Baloch Liberation Army claimed responsibility for the attack that took place near China-built Confucius Institute – a non-profit institute teaching Chinese language to local pupils- in the university.
A spokesperson for the university said that three of the victims were Chinese nationals. They were identified as Confucius Institute Director Huang Guiping, Ding Mupeng, Chen Sa and Khalid, the Pakistani driver.
The spokesperson added that two others, Wang Yuqing and Hamid, were injured in the incident.
Counter-Terrorism Department official Raja Umar Khattab said that the suicide attack was carried out by a woman, adding that ball bearings were found at the site of the blast, Dawn newspaper reported.
He said the van was properly guarded as a Rangers team was escorting it. Four Rangers who were behind the van on motorcycles were also injured. However, their condition is stable.
CCTV footage of the attack showed a burqa-clad woman standing outside the entrance of the Confucius Institute. The woman detonated herself just as the van neared the institute’s entrance, the paper said.
Karachi police chief Ghulam Nabi Memon said that it was unfortunate that teachers had been targeted.
Asked whether a threat had been issued prior to the attack, the senior officer said that there was “always a threat”.
He said tight security arrangements were already in place at the varsity. (PTI)
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