5 Japanese Workers Escape Suicide Bombing In Pakistan

New Delhi: As many as five Japanese autoworkers narrowly escaped a suicide bombing incident in Pakistan’s port city of Karachi. The attacker detonated his explosive-laden vest near a van carrying the workers. Local police chief Arshad Awan said the vehicle was heading to an industrial area where five Japanese nationals worked at Pakistan Suzuki Motors, The Associated Press reported.

Police escorting the Japanese returned fire after coming under attack, killing an accomplice of the suicide bomber whose remains were found at the scene of the attack. “All the Japanese who were the target of the attack are safe,” the cop was quoted as saying.

Awan informed that the three injured were in stable condition at a hospital. A senior police officer, Tariq Mastoi told the agency that the cops were escorting the van after receiving reports about possible attacks on foreigners who are working in Pakistan on various Chinese-funded and other projects.

No one immediately claimed responsibility, however, suspicion is likely to to fall on a small separatist group or Pakistani Taliban who have stepped up attacks on security forces in recent years, the report added.