Karachi: A man was killed and around 19 others injured when unknown assailants travelling on motorcycles hurled hand grenades at a tea stall in a troubled area of this Pakistani city.
The incident took place at around 9:45 pm on Monday night in Lyari area which has gained notoriety for a raging gang war.
According to witnesses, people were having dinner amid a power breakdown when a motorcycle stopped and its riders lobbed a hand grenade at the teashop.
"We are not sure how many people were involved in the attack but according to some eye witnesses they were atleast six people on the motorcycles," a police official said.
Residents said they heard the explosion and then saw the motorcycles speed by.
Lyari, one of the oldest localities of Karachi, has been troubled by a turf war between different gangs divided on ethnic and political lines.
Lyari SP Pervez Iqbal Bhatti said that the teashop was located in a 'neutral' area.
"These were just normal, neutral people out to have dinner. Till now, there were no reports that anyone at the teashop was affiliated with a gang," said SP Bhatti.
On who could possibly be responsible, he said, "The Arshad Pappu gang could be involved as they have been involved earlier as well".
The body of the deceased and the injured were taken to the civil hospital. Bhatti said the motive of the attack could be to simply spread fear in the area.
Police was not willing to confirm the lone casualty in the attack but rescue workers said one man was killed but his relatives took away his body from the hospital in a hurry.
Several hand grenade attacks have taken place in Lyari in last two months with illegal gambling dens being the main targets.
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