KARACHI: As the death toll in the Shikarpur attack rose to 58 on Saturday, police investigators claimed to have found ‘enough evidence’ to determine that it was the act of a suicide bomber. They believe the bomber and his handlers had “some support in the city”.

A special investigation team of the Sindh police crime investigation department (CID) rushed to Shikarpur from Karachi on Saturday and came up with initial findings after visiting Markazi Imambargah Maula Ali.

“It’s definitely a suicide attack,” Raja Umer Khattab, chief of the CID’s counter-terrorism unit, told Dawn. “The bomber exploded himself when the congregation was busy in Dua after Friday prayers. It was a congested place with ground plus one structure.

“The attacker placed himself in the front row to target as many people as he could,” Mr Khattab said.

The investigators also found parts of the ‘attacker’s body’, but clarified that his identity had yet to be determined. “This will require medical examination and forensic probe.”

Asked about their claim to have found ‘body parts of the attacker’ from the scene, Mr Khattab cited reasons for his conviction.

“It’s true that finding body parts of any bomber from such a place is a tough job, but there is always a clue which leads to such conclusions,” he said.

“The parts I am referring to are entirely different from others and suffered more damage. Second, we have only one body left, which is unidentified and unrecognised, and there is no claimant either. So we are quite sure the body is that of the suicide attacker.”

The police official was dismissive of a claim made by the terrorist group Jundullah that it had carried out the attack. “Such claims are also made to divert or distract the course of investigations,” said Mr Khattab.

“Shikarpur is no stranger to subversive elements. At least two suicide attacks and a remote-controlled bomb assault have been carried out recently. Investigations and subsequent arrests demonstrated that militants enjoy local support, making their job easier,” he observed.

Earlier, funeral prayers were offered in Shikarpur, where shock and grief pervaded the atmosphere.

Published in Dawn, February 1st, 2015

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