- Attack on Christian Colony in Peshawar foiled, 4 terrorists killed
PESHAWAR, September 2: At least fourteen people have been killed and up to sixty wounded after a suicide bomber attacked a court in the Pakistani city of Mardan on Friday, police said, the latest assault targeting Pakistan’s legal community.
The bomber shot his way through the main gate leading to the district court, before throwing a hand grenade then detonating his suicide vest among the morning crowds, senior police official Ejaz Khan told reporters.
District Police Officer (DPO) Mardan Faisal Shahzad said the attacker detonated a hand grenade before exploding his suicide vest. The bomb contained 8 kilograms of explosive material, the DPO said, adding that security arrangements at the site of the attack helped mitigate the damage.
DPO said constable Junaid Khan who was martyred in the attack, spotted the bomber at the entry gate and fired at him, as a result of which the militant detonated his explosive vest at the main gate of district courts.
The DPO said four lawyers and three policemen were among the dead. He lauded the bravery of the policemen who tried to stop the suicide bomber from making his way inside the courthouse. “Police fired at the attacker, then the second explosion took place,” the DIG said. “The attacker was deterred by the firing.
His plan was to get inside,” he said. Provincial Information Minister Mushtaq Ghani told media that the attacker first threw a hand grenade and then detonated his suicide jacket at the entry gate of the district and sessions court that caused the casualties.
Following the explosion, the police and security forces cordoned off the area and started investigation. The injured were immediately shifted to Mardan Medical Complex and critically injured were shifted to Lady Reading Hospital Peshawar where emergency was enforced.
The Spokesman of Mardan Medical Complex have requested people not to create rush in wards as it was creating hurdle in treatment process of the patients and contact Emergency Department Information Desk for any query. An emergency has been imposed at hospitals in the area.
The deceased identified are Police Constables Azam Khan, Ishtaiq Khan and Junaid Khan, lawyers Yousaf Bacha, Inayat Ali and Said Akbar.Civilians Muhammad Ayaz, Akhtar Munir, Muhammad Ismail, Khalid Khan and Badr Munir are also among dead.
Meanwhile, a terrorist attack targeting Christian Colony located on Warsak Road in Peshawar was foiled by security forces.
The ISPR in a statement said the operation against terrorists in Warsak had concluded and all four suicide bombers had been killed.
Four suicide bombers with arms and ammunition entered Christian Colony Warsak after hitting a security guard at 5:50 AM on Friday, ISPR said.
Security forces promptly responded and cordoned off the area. Five people which included two FC soldiers, a police constable and two civil guards were injured in exchange of fire.
A Levies personnel was martyred and a civilian identified as Samuel Masih was killed.
The militants were initially engaged by Pakistan Army’s Quick Reaction Force (QRF). Reinforcements were immediately sent in to thwart the attack.
Chief of Army Staff General Raheel Sharif appreciated Army, Frontier Corps and police for prompt and effective response and defeating the terrorists’ attempt.
Earlier, official sources said five explosions had been heard, amid sporadic gunfire by militants.
Emergency has been declared at Lady Reading Hospital and other hospitals. Residents of the area were asked to stay inside their homes.
Police claimed that the suicide bombers were aged between 20 and 24 years. All four of them had beards, they added.
Body parts including the legs and skull of the suicide bombers were recovered from the blast site, police said.
Heavy weapons including four guns, four suicide jackets and four hand grenades were found from them, sources said. The suicide jackets were diffused by the bomb disposal squad.
Police said that attackers were carrying Afghan mobile phone SIMs.
Each militant carried 8-10 kg of explosives, police sources said.
There are 25 to 30 houses of the Christian community located in the vicinity.-Agencies
