Suicide attack at Mardan district court kills 13, injures 30
The suicide bomber shot his way through the main gate leading to the district court.
MARDAN (Web Desk / AFP) – At least thirteen people were killed and 30 persons including lawyers and policemen sustained injuries after two back to back powerful explosions hit district court in in Pakistan‘s northwestern district of Mardan on Friday morning.
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.
Army jawans and policemen have cordoned off the area while Rescue 1122 teams moved the injured persons to District Headquarter Hospital and Mardan Medical Complex.
Search operation is underway in the locality.
Ejaz Khan said the dead included at least two policemen as well as lawyers and clerks. The bomber had up to eight kilogrammes of explosives packed into his vest.
No group has yet claimed responsibility for the attack.
People gather at the blast site (AFP Photo)
The blast in Mardan demonstrates the terrorists’ continued ability to stage deadly attacks, despite a major military offensive against its headquarters that analysts say has reduced its capacity.
Last month, a suicide blast in Quetta’s civil hospital killed over 70 people, mostly lawyers.
The lawyers had gathered at the hospital to receive body of Balochistan Bar Association President Bilal Anwar Kasi who was shot dead by terrorists earlier in the day.
In December, 2015, a TTP suicide bomber on a motorcycle killed at least 26 people and wounded dozens after crashing into the main gate a regional branch of the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA), which is responsible for issuing ID cards.
SUICIDE ATTACKERS KILLED IN PESHAWAR
Earlier today, four suicide bombers were killed in ‘prompt response’ by the security forces in Peshawar’s Christian Colony near Warsak Road.
Soldiers backed by army helicopters exchanged gunfire with terrorists in suicide vests who had tried to attack the colony near Warsak Dam, just north of Peshawar.
Five persons including two Frontier Corps (FC) personnel, one policeman and two civilian guards have also been injured in the attack.
Jamaat-ul-Ahrar (JuA), a faction of the Tehreek-e-Taliban, claimed responsibility for the attempt.
Pakistan has been battling terrorism since 2004 after the US-led invasion of Afghanistan caused fighters to flee across the border.
More than 27,000 civilians and security personnel have died in attacks since that time. But overall levels of extremist-linked violence have dropped dramatically after Pak Army launched operations in September 2014 against the Tehreek-e-Taliban and other militant groups in the tribal areas of North Waziristan and Khyber Agency.
