Parcel bomb injures family trio

LAST night, three members of a Morningside family, Zakaria, 22, Maseeha, 20, and Sara-bibi, 70, Khan remained critically injured in hospital following the explosion of a parcel bomb at a luxury mansion in the upmarket Durban suburb.

This happened after a flower delivery along with a “Get Well” card was delivered to the family’s house on Stephen Dlamini Road.

Family spokesperson Nawshaadh Khan confirmed that a second bomb had been located in the flowering pot plant which had been delivered to the house. This was then detonated by police.

Describing the family as “traumatised”, Nawshaadh said his aunt, Sara-bibi, had a broken leg and lacerations, his nephew’s wife, Maseeha, had lacerations and his nephew, Zakaria, had lost his thumb and two fingers.

“Zakaria remains in a very critical condition. It has been terrible. Police found a second bomb in the pot plant,” he said.

It is believed the first bomb was in the package in which the plant was delivered. The explosion rocked the neighbourhood. Shocked neighbours said the bang was followed by loud screams.

At the scene, head of the family, Saleem Khan, told members of the media that he had rushed his son, his daughter-in-law and mother to hospital following the explosion.

Pale and distraught, Khan appeared briefly outside the mansion and confirmed all three family members were in a critical condition.

He said, “I was on this road driving home when the explosion took place.”

He was hurried away by family members as a crowd of neighbours and onlookers gathered in the street which had been closed by police.

The bomb exploded shortly after midday.

A staff member who asked not to ne named said on hearing the explosion, he rushed into the house.

“I heard everybody screaming and when I ran inside. There was smoke everywhere and blood. I helped to carry the family members out to the car.

“The son of the boss brought in the flowers and took them into the lounge. That’s when it happened. There was so much black smoke everywhere. I am feeling so shocked,” she said.

The house owner, Mohammed Hussein Hassam, who had rushed to the scene, said the house was rented to the Khans at the beginning of the year.