Pakistan arrests over bombing that killed five Chinese

Pakistani counterterrorism police have arrested at least 12 suspects in raids over a suicide bombing that killed five Chinese workers and their Pakistani driver in the volatile northwest.

The detainees were not directly involved in the attack but they helped those who orchestrated Tuesday’s bombing targeting the Chinese, three police and security officials said.

They said some of the detainees had links with Pakistani militants, adding the suspects were still being questioned on Sunday and other raids were ongoing.

The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to speak to media on the record.

The officials said some of the detained suspects transported an explosive-laden car to Shangla, a district in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, where a suicide bomber rammed it into another vehicle, killing the Chinese workers.

The latest development came hours after the bodies of the five Chinese nationals were flown overnight from a military air base in Rawalpindi to Beijing, Pakistani officials and state media said.

The Chinese ambassador, Jiang Zaidong, was present at the Noor Khan air base when the bodies were brought there on Sunday night.

Zaidong in remarks conveyed his deep condolences to the families of the victims of the attack.

A Pakistani cabinet minister, Salik Hussain, accompanied the bodies to China.

The slain Chinese were travelling to Pakistan’s biggest hydropower project, Dasu Dam, where they worked, when their vehicle came under attack.

On Monday, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif was also visiting Dasu Dam to meet Chinese engineers and workers.

Chinese and Pakistani investigators are conducting separate probes into the attack, which drew nationwide condemnation.

China has also asked Pakistan to ensure the protection of its nationals working in various parts of Pakistan on projects in the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor.

Authorities say the Chinese bombing victims were heading to the project site amid tight security.

Other Chinese working on CPEC-related projects have faced similar attacks in recent years.

In July 2021, at least 13 people, including nine Chinese nationals, were killed when a suicide bomber detonated explosives in his vehicle near a bus carrying Chinese and Pakistani engineers and labourers, prompting Chinese companies to temporarily suspend work.