Seizure of explosive-laden Suzuki: press note

KARACHI: The police on Monday foiled an attempt to blow up the US Consulate in Karachi and seized an explosive-laden Suzuki parked outside the consulate’s boundary wall.

An official press note issued on the incident said, “The police picket outside the US Consulate-General on Abdullah Haroon Road, Karachi saw a man parking a beige Suzuki Bolan (GA-0313) in front of the consulate’s main gate at 7:14am on Monday. “He got out of the vehicle and quickly got into a Suzuki Alto, which was closely following him. The Alto’s driver had opened the car’s rear door for the man to get into the vehicle.

“Police and Rangers got suspicious and surrounded the Suzuki Bolan and informed the bomb disposal squad to check whether the vehicle was rigged with explosives.

“The bomb disposal squad and a police party arrived at the scene and defused the explosive. They took the vehicle into their custody and towed it to a safe place.

“It was discovered that the Suzuki Bolan’s rear seats had been removed and a fibreglass water tank containing a liquid form of explosive had been put in their place. The tank was fitted with two detonators and a fuse connected to a washing machine timer device.

“After defusing the explosive and towing the vehicle to a safer place, the bomb disposal squad analysed the explosive material in the tank.

“Preliminary analysis revealed that the liquid in the tank was composed of Hydrogen Peroxide, Ammonium Nitrate and Sulphuric Acid. “On detonation, the device would have caused a huge explosion, emitting gases and starting a fire that could have engulfed the surrounding area and buildings causing considerable damage to life and property.

“Further investigations revealed that the original registration number of the Suzuki Bolan was CA-8501 and that this vehicle had been snatched at gunpoint from the Baloch Colony police Station’s jurisdiction at 7:45pm on Sunday.

“Baloch Colony Police Station registered FIR 54/04 under Section 394 PPC at 10:00pm on the complaint of one Muneeb Tariq s/o Tariq r/o 58/1 Block R, Karachi Administrative Society, Karachi in which the complainant stated that he was intercepted by two young men dressed in trousers and shirts who tried to snatch the vehicle from him at Muhammadi Chowk PCO, Karachi Administrative Society. On resistance, one of the accused shot Muneeb in his right leg, after which they took the vehicle and fled the scene. “In recognition of the bomb disposal squad’s prompt response and expert handling of the explosive material, Sindh Inspector General of Police Syed Kamal Shah has promoted Sub-Inspectors Sabir Durrani and Tariq Mehmood to the rank of Inspector and gave them cash rewards of Rs 50,000 and Rs 10,000 respectively. A Rs 10,000 cash reward has also been given to the operator for promptly relaying the information. “Further investigations are in progress,” the press note concluded. —APP

Home | National