KARACHI: Suspects in booby trap van probe interrogated
By Our Staff Reporter
KARACHI, March 16: Police on Tuesday picked up some suspects and questioned them to find a clue to the culprits who had left an explosive-laden vehicle close to the US consulate here on Monday.
"We raided various places in different localities in the city and picked up some suspects in connection with the explosive-laden vehicle," SP Farooq Awan, In-charge of the Anti-Violent Crime Cell (AVCC) told Dawn. He did not disclose the number of those picked up.
Sources said that one, Ghazanfar, was among those picked up by the AVCC from his Martin Quarters house in the small hours on Tuesday. He was suspected to have been involved in providing shelter to the perpetrators who had snatched the vehicle and left it near the consulate.
However, the SP said: "We have questioned Ghazanfar and believe that he was not involved." Samples of the liquefied chemical found in the vehicle have been sent to a private laboratory and the Pakistan Navy.
"We have sent the samples to the Navy for test of the chemical, but haven't yet received the report," DIG Operations Tariq Jamil said. The vehicle, laden with explosive material connected with a timer and two detonators, was left by some unidentified persons in front of the US consulate on Monday. The explosive device was later defused by the police. It contained 750 litres of liquefied chemical.
The sources in the Crime Investigation Department (CID) said the inquiry into the affair showed that the sketch of a suspect, who had snatched the Suzuki in Baloch Colony, considerably resembled the sketch of another man who earlier had snatched a Suzuki Carry involved in the January 15 blast near the Bible Society.
Twelve people were injured and about a dozen of vehicles were damaged in the January 15 carbomb explosion followed by a grenade attack 15 minutes later. The blasts occurred along the parking area of the Holy Trinity Church. In view of the investigation, the group in both the incidents seemed to be the same, the sources pointed out.
AWARDS: IGP Sindh Syed Kamal Shah on Tuesday announced cash prizes for the policemen who foiled the March 15 plot by defusing the explosive material, adds PPI.
He announced Rs50,000 for SI Sabir Durrani of the bomb disposal squad and Rs10,000 each for SI Tariq Mehmood and a wireless operator. Both the SIs would also be promoted to next rank.
