Nine suspects detained for questioning about Chinese convoy attack

Nine suspects, including a woman, have been detained for questioning as part of the ongoing investigations into Sunday night’s terror attack on a Chinese convoy near Karachi Airport.

Investigators have successfully traced the route of the suicide attacker and the vehicle used in the vehicle-borne IED blast. They have confirmed that the assailants passed near the airport traffic signal prior to the incident. Additional vehicle details are being obtained with the assistance of the National Database Registration Authority and other relevant departments.

Some of the 16 people injured in the blast have been discharged from various hospitals after receiving medical treatment, while others are still under care.

The suicide blast occurred near the Karachi Airport’s traffic signal, killing three people, including two Chinese nationals, and injuring 16 others, including one Chinese national. Around 15 vehicles were also destroyed in the explosion. The banned Balochistan-based group, Baloch Liberation Army’s Majeed Brigade claimed responsibility for the suicide bombing.

Given the terrorist nature of the incident, the FIR is to be registered with the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD). A draft for the FIR has been prepared, and CTD officials are awaiting approval from senior officials for its registration.

Although the BLA’s Majeed Brigade has claimed responsibility for the attack on the Chinese engineers, the highly organized nature of the attack has raised several questions for investigators, and the search for answers is

ongoing.

Given the complexity and scope of the attack, investigators are questioning whether the BLA could have carried out such a sophisticated operation on its own, or if there was collaboration with another militant group or local support.

One key area of investigation is how the BLA obtained information about the movements and schedules (flight details) of the Chinese engineers. Investigators are also exploring the possibility of internal support or leaks. Additionally, the large quantity of explosives used in the attack — around 70 to 80 kilogrammes (according to bomb disposal’s report) — is unusual for previous BLA operations in Karachi, prompting further investigation into where the explosives came from and where they were stored before the attack.

Investigators are also trying to trace the location where the vehicle used in the attack was prepared and loaded with explosives. All these questions are crucial as authorities work to uncover the full extent of the planning and involvement behind this major and organized attack.

They are relying on various technical, forensic, and ground intelligence methods, including geo-fencing, analyzing CCTV footage from different routes, checking for suspected persons' stays in guesthouses, and recording witness statements. Additionally, intelligence networks have been activated to assist in the investigation.

Sources involved in the investigation confirmed that there is no doubt the attack was carried out by the BLA, as they have openly claimed responsibility. However, investigators are questioning whether the BLA could have planned and executed such a large-scale attack alone. It is believed that another militant outfit may have been involved in a joint venture, and local support might have played a role.

"This is the first large and organized attack of this scale by the BLA in Karachi, unlike anything seen before. It is likely that the planning had been ongoing for quite some time, and the possibility of internal support or the involvement of another militant outfit cannot be ruled out," explained a senior officer.

Despite the Majeed Brigade claiming responsibility for the attack, law enforcement agencies have yet to achieve a significant breakthrough. However, they have detained nine suspects, including a woman, during raids in various parts of the city, hoping to gather information that could aid in solving

the case.

Investigators have not yet cleared the crime scene, and damaged vehicles from the explosion site remain present as forensic experts continue their inspections. The geo-fencing process has been completed, leading to the identification of half a dozen suspicious phone numbers. Using call detail records, investigators have uncovered further suspicious numbers.