2015 Karachi bus shooting

2015 Karachi bus shooting
LocationSafoora Goth, Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan
Coordinates24°51′19″N 67°10′19″E / 24.8554°N 67.1719°E / 24.8554; 67.1719
Date13 May 2015
TargetIsmaili community
Attack type
Shooting
Deaths45[1]
InjuredDozens[1]
PerpetratorsTehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan(claimed)[2]
Jundallah(claimed)[3]
ISIL(claimed)[4][5]

On 13 May 2015, eight gunmen attacked a bus travelling in Safoora Goth, Karachi, Sindh in Pakistan. The shooting left at least 46 people dead. All of the victims were of the Ismaili Shia Muslim minority, suggesting the attack was a targeted killing of sectarian nature.[1]

The banned militant group Jundallah claimed responsibility for the shooting. The gunmen hailed from Afghanistan.[6] Pamphlets supporting ISIL, with whom Jundallah claims allegiance, were also found at the crime scene.[7][8] However, the Pakistani government ruled out the connection of ISIL in the attack, stating that the group does not have a physical presence in the country.[9][10] Numerous Pakistani government and media reports have also claimed the backing of a foreign hand, mainly India's Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), behind the attack.[9][11][12][13] India has denied the allegations.[14]

Five perpetrators behind the attack were later arrested by Pakistani security forces and were awarded death penalty by a Pakistani court on 12 May 2016.[15] One of the mastermind behind the attack, Qari Saifullah Mehsud was later killed by two unknown gunmen in Khost province of Afghanistan.[2] Locals in Afghanistan suspect that the 'two unknown gunmen' were associated with Pakistan as there has been attacks on anti-Pakistan terrorists groups residing in Afghanistan in the past.

  1. ^ a b c "Gunmen kill at least 40 in Karachi attack". BBC News. 13 May 2015. Retrieved 13 May 2015.
  2. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference pt was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference tribune was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference guardian was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ "IS claims deadly attack on Karachi Shiites, first in Pakistan". Yahoo News. 13 May 2015. Retrieved 13 May 2015.
  6. ^ Abbas, Munira (14 May 2015). "Safora massacre death toll rises to 45 as Ismaili community say their last goodbyes". The Express Tribune. Retrieved 17 May 2015.
  7. ^ "IS claims deadly attack on Shiites in Karachi". Business Insider. 13 May 2015. Retrieved 13 May 2015.
  8. ^ "IS claims deadly attack on Shiites in Karachi". France 24. 13 May 2015. Archived from the original on 13 May 2015. Retrieved 13 May 2015.
  9. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference ET2 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  10. ^ News desk (17 May 2015). "No evidence of Daesh involvement in Karachi bus attack: Sources". News International, 17 May. News International. Retrieved 17 May 2015.
  11. ^ Cite error: The named reference ET3 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  12. ^ Cite error: The named reference VOA was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  13. ^ Cite error: The named reference PT was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  14. ^ Cite error: The named reference BS was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  15. ^ "Sabeen Mahmud, Safoora Goth killers to be hanged". Dawn News. 12 May 2016.