KARACHI, Aug 17: At least two people were killed and 12 others injured when a bomb exploded near Safari Park on the city’s busy University Road on Friday.

Police sources said about 2 kgs of explosives had been planted near the KESC substation to target a bus carrying people going to attend the Al Quds Day rally.

The bus coming from Karachi University carried mainly students belonging to the Imamia Students Organisation.

The bus, a car and some motorbikes were part of a small caravan going to the Numaish area for the rally.

DIG East Shahid Hayat said the car bore the brunt of the blast when the explosives were detonated by remote control.

Its roof was almost blown up and the front seats were soaked in blood. People ran for cover when ambulances taking the injured to hospital came under fire in the Jauhar area.

The deceased were identified as Maulana Manzoor Hussain, 30, and Imtiaz Ali, 25.

Special Secretary Health Dr Suresh Kumar said that of the injured, two were undergoing laparotomy, one was in the neurosurgery ICU, two were admitted to the orthopedic ward of the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre and two others were at the Aga Khan University Hospital.

Dr Kumar said that five of the injured were in serious condition.

SP Raja Umar Khattab pointed out the attack was similar to those carried out in the city against Rangers and Navy buses.

He suspected that one particular group was behind the roadside bomb attacks in the city.

Bomb disposal personnel said that the explosives had been laced with ball bearings.