A factory worker injured his legs after an explosive device believed to have been set by a loan shark went off as he was getting into his car in Taman Pengkalan Setia, Simpang, here last night.

Taiping Police chief ACP Harrith Kam Abdullah said the incident happened at 10.10pm when the 50-year-old man was about to return to Bukit Mertajam in Penang after visiting his son who is studying here.

"The explosive device had been tied to the door of the Toyota Corolla car and went off when the car door was opened," he said in a statement today.

The police found pieces of metal, a battery, wires and string at the scene, he said, adding that these were components to make an explosive that was meant only to cause injury.

Harrith Kam said the victim was not badly injured but was undergoing treatment at the Taiping Hospital because an X-ray image showed splinters of screws in both his legs.

The victim had borrowed money from a loan shark to meet business commitments, he said and appealed to eye-witnesses to come forward to assist in the case.

-- BERNAMA