Chinese investigation team arrives in Karachi, inspects suicide attack site

A high-level team of Chinese investigators reportedly arrived in Karachi and inspected the site of the recent suicide attack near the airport signal that targeted a Chinese delegation and their security convoy.

Sources revealed that after visiting the blast site, the Chinese investigation team were briefed by Pakistani investigation officials on the findings so far.

The Pakistani investigators informed the Chinese team that due to strict airport security, the attacker was unable to bring his explosives-laden vehicle inside the airport. He carried out the suicide attack near the signal outside the airport.

The Chinese investigators also examined the evidence collected by Pakistani agencies and gathered some of their own evidence from the site.

However, no statement has been officially issued regarding the visit of the Chinese investigation team.

Meanwhile, sources reported that the human remains found at the scene have been identified as those of the suicide bomber, Shah Fahad. According to the sources, the identification was made possible through two fingers from the bomber's left hand, which matched with record of the National Database & Registration Authority.

Other body parts recovered from the scene include the bomber's torso, left hand with two fingers, and fragments of the head, sources said.

Investigators also await the examination report of the explosive samples sent for analysis. This will help determine which type of explosive was used in the

device.

The investigators are also waiting for other forensic reports and have

expanded the scope of the investigations using geo-fencing and call detail record analysis. Interrogation of the detained suspects also continues.

It is important to note that on Sunday night, a suicide bomber rammed his explosives-laden vehicle into a convoy of Chinese engineers. As a result, three persons, including two Chinese nationals, were killed, and 16 others, including another Chinese national, injured. The attack also caused significant damage to more than 15 vehicles. The responsibility claimed by the Baloch Liberation Army’s Majeed Brigade through social media. Later, police registered a case at the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) against the BLA chief and facilitators.

Bodies sent home

Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah and Governor Muhammad Kamran Tessori attended a ceremony on Thursday to dispatch from the old terminal of the Karachi airport the bodies of two Chinese nationals who were killed in a terror attack on October 6.

The two Chinese nationals were killed in a car-born IED blast near the airport on Sunday.

Senior officials of police, Rangers and other agencies also attended Thursday’s ceremony, in which a minute's silence was observed over the death of the two Chinese nationals.

The chief minister and the governor also expressed condolences to the families of the Chinese nationals as well as to the Chinese government.