Five Japanese autoworkers had a narrow escape from a suicide bombing attack in Karachi, Pakistan’s port city. According to local police chief Arshad Awan, the attack targeted a van carrying the workers, who were on the way to an industrial area where they worked at Pakistan Suzuki Motors. The attacker detonated his explosive-laden vest near the van, but fortunately, all the Japanese nationals were unharmed.
Police guarding the Japanese workers retaliated, engaging in gunfire with an accomplice of the suicide bomber, resulting in the death of the attacker. Authorities praised the quick response of the police in thwarting the attack and ensuring the safety of the targeted individuals.
President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif commended the police action and expressed solidarity with the injured bystanders, wishing them a speedy recovery.
Of the three bystanders wounded in the attack, Awan reported that they were in stable condition at a local hospital. The police had been escorting the van after receiving intelligence about potential threats to foreigners working on various projects in Pakistan, including those funded by China. Tariq Mastoi, a senior police officer, credited the swift response of the guards and police for preventing further casualties.
While no group has claimed responsibility for the attack yet, suspicion falls on small separatist factions or the Pakistani Taliban, known for targeting security forces in recent years. In addition, insurgents have previously targeted Chinese nationalist involved in projects like the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, raising concerns about the safety of foreign workers in the region.
This incident marks the first time Japanese nationals working in Pakistan have been targeted in such an attack. Karachi, as the largest city in Pakistan and the capital of Sindh province, has seen its share of security challenges, but this targeted attack on foreign workers underscores ongoing concerns about terrorism and the safety of international personnel in the country.
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