Karachi: 2 dead, 42 injured as grenades hurled at Ismaili worshippers

KARACHI: A couple of hand grenade attacks at two Ismaili community Jamaat Khanas (Prayer Houses) left at least two dead and 42 injured here on Tuesday, Geo News reported.

According to sources grenades were tossed at two prayer houses located in Karimabad, Karachi Central, and Metroville, Karachi West, when both the buildings was packed with worshipers.

The attacks were carried out almost simultaneously, the police said.

The law-enforcers cordoned off the worship houses in both the areas immediately after the attacks, while the rescuers dealt with the casualties.

Rescue sources confirmed that a woman and a child were killed in the attack on Karimabad Jamaat Khana.

"A hand grenade fell inside the Karimabad prayer house, which killed a woman and a child and wounded dozens others, whereas Metroville attack injured two people" said a police official.

The police are clueless as to who the attackers could be as the non-violent Ismaili community has rarely come under such terrorist attacks in the past.

Nobody has so far claimed responsibility for the attacks but Karachi, a city of 18 million people, is rife with murder and kidnappings and has been plagued for years by ethic, sectarian and political violence.

The Ismaili community is a faction of Shia Muslims that follows Prince Karim Aga Khan IV, its 49th Imam. Ismailis considers him as their spiritual leader.