An explosion inside the premises of Karachi University on Tuesday shook Pakistan killing 4 people and injured several others. The incident which took place in Karachi, the country’s largest city, was an explosion in a minivan. 4 people including 3 Chinese nationals died. The blast took place near the Confucius Institute inside the University, which is a China-funded educational centre.
While it was initially reported that the cause of the explosion was a gas cylinder, but the attack is now confirmed to have been carried out by a suicide bomber.
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This is the first major attack on nationals of long-time ally China in Pakistan since last year. Back then, a suicide bombing of a passenger bus in northern Pakistan had claimed 13 lives, including nine Chinese.
In the latest incident, the three Chinese nationals, which included the Director of the Institute and faculty members, were travelling in the vehicle when the bomb exploded.
The responsibility for the terror attack has been claimed by the separatist group Baloch Liberation. BLA told Reuters in an email that a woman suicide bomber was behind the attack.
This is also the first major terror attack on urban soil in Pakistan since Imran Khan was succeeded by Shehbaz Sharif as the country’s prime minister. Sharif called the attack as a cowardly act of terrorism. "I am deeply grieved on the loss of precious lives including of our Chinese friends in the heinous attack in Karachi today," he said in a statement.
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