A massive explosion near Karachi’s Jinnah International Airport late Sunday night claimed the lives of two people and left 11 others injured, including a foreign national, according to officials. The powerful blast, which was heard miles away in parts of the city like Clifton, sparked confusion as authorities investigated the cause.
Early reports offered conflicting explanations for the explosion, with some officials suggesting it could have been caused by an improvised explosive device (IED), while others speculated that a collision between a vehicle and an oil tanker may have triggered the blast. A large contingent of police and Rangers quickly arrived on the scene and began shifting the injured to nearby hospitals.
Dramatic footage from the site showed several vehicles engulfed in flames, and the Bomb Disposal Squad was deployed to determine the exact nature of the explosion. Deputy Inspector General (East) Capt (retd) Azfar Mahesar briefed the media at the scene, confirming the deaths and the destruction of seven vehicles. He emphasised that the investigation was ongoing, and no definitive conclusions could be drawn until forensic reports were completed.
In a statement released shortly after the incident, the outlawed Majeed Brigade of the Baloch Liberation Army claimed responsibility for the attack. However, the group’s claim could not be independently verified at the time of reporting.
Police Surgeon Dr. Summaiya Syed confirmed that nine injured individuals, including a policeman and a woman, were brought to the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre, while two others were transferred to a private hospital in Clifton. Among the injured were police constable Waqar Ahmed, Mohammed Ilyas, Mohammed Naeem, and several others.
As a precaution, the Airports Security Force sealed off all entry and exit points to the airport, while traffic police closed the road leading to the airport from the Model Colony graveyard, diverting vehicular traffic.
Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah took immediate notice of the explosion, instructing law enforcement agencies to prioritise public safety. He also directed that roads leading to the airport be cleared to prevent inconvenience for passengers. The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) later issued a statement assuring that all its assets were secure and that flight operations continued as normal.
Sindh Governor Kamran Tessori and Home Minister Ziaul Hasan Lanjar both visited the site, urging the public to refrain from speculation as investigations were still underway. Lanjar noted that initial reports pointed to an IED blast and that a convoy of foreign nationals had been in the vicinity at the time of the explosion.
Authorities are expected to release further details once forensic and investigative reports are completed.