3 bombers killed during attack on Charsadda court: officials
HASSAN JAHANGIRI |
ALI AKBAR — UPDATED about a minute ago
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Footage showing damage of the terror attack in Charsadda.
Security forces killed three suicide attackers who attempted to wreak havoc at a local court in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa's Charsadda district, officials said Tuesday.
DSP Charsadda Fayaz Khan says five civilians have been killed in the attack, which the proscribed Jamaat-ul-Ahraar (JuA) has claimed.
Provincial government sources say one lawyer is among those killed and 10 others are injured.
The damage of the blast is seen.— DawnNews
At least three attackers attempted to enter the court premises through the main gate. They opened fire and also threw hand grenades, prompting retaliatory fire by police and security forces deployed at the court.
One bomber was killed in the firing at the gate, whereas the second was killed as he entered the court. The third bomber was killed when he detonated his explosives.
Eyewitnesses say the remains of the bombers were lying on the roadside along with their explosives and ammunition.
Town resident Mohammad Shah Baz told Reuters he was inside the judicial complex when the suicide bombers stormed it.
“I escaped towards the canteen and climbed the wall to save my life. But there were many people dead and injured,” he said.
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Upto 10 ambulances were dispatched to Charsadda from Peshawar, where the Lady Reading Hospital has been put on high alert.
Charsadda is approximately 30km away from Peshawar.
The reports come as security has been heightened across KP and the country after the recent wave of terror.
Charsadda is a nearly 40 minute drive from KP’s provincial capital Peshawar, and has been a target of terror attacks for nearly a decade.
A suicide bomber had
struck a local court in Charsadda's Shabqadar area last year in March, killing 17 people. That attack too was claimed by Jamaat-ul-Ahraar.
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Resurgence in terror attacks
Pakistan is experiencing a fresh resurgence in terror attacks.
In the last 10 days, over 100 people have killed in terror attacks in Sindh, Balochistan, KP, Fata and Punjab.
Six killed, over 20 injured as sessions court in Charsadda comes under attack
By
Mureeb Mohmand /
Reuters
Published: February 21, 2017
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Several critically injured as a result of the explosion, eyewitnesses say. PHOTO: EXPRESS
CHARSADDA: At least six people, including a lawyer were killed and more than 20 others injured as a sessions court in Charsadda was hit by multiple suicide attacks Tuesday morning, Fahad Riaz district Nazim Charsadda said.
“The explosions took place at the entrance of the sessions court,” DPO Charsadda Sohail Khalid said.
5 injured in IED blasts outside Charsadda court
Initial reports revealed that there were two judges present in the premises, and proceedings continued as per routine when firing broke out. While the number of attackers is yet to be ascertained, eyewitnesses said one blast took place at the entrance of the court, and one near the bar room. “One of the suicide bombers tried to enter the court, however, was shot dead by security officials,”an eyewitness said.
“One of the attackers lobbed a hand grenade at the gate of the court and then opened firing,” Naeem Iqbal, an eyewitness said. According to another eyewitness, at least five people were critically injured when the initial blast took place.
Addressing the media, DIG Mardan Aijaz Khan said, “Initial estimates suggest the explosives used in the attack weighed around 9kgs.”
According to Dr Gul Rahim DHQ Charsadda, three bodies have been received thus far. The injured have been shifted to Charsadda Tangi Hospital and Lady Reading Hospital in Peshawar for immediate treatment, Rescue 1122 official Bilal Jalal said.
The district administration said at least four people were killed. A witness told
Reuters he had seen “many” dead bodies at
the scene. Town resident Mohammad Shah Baz told
Reuters he was inside the judicial complex when the suicide bombers stormed it. “I escaped towards the canteen and climbed the wall to save my life. But there were many people dead and injured,” he said.
House of Lahore blast facilitator demolished
Pakistan has been hit by a series of suicide bomb attacks in recent days, claiming more than 100 lives.
At least 80 people were killed when a suicide bomber blew himself up at the Lal Shahbaz Qalandar shrine in Sindh’s Sehwan town last week. In response, Pakistan launched a security crackdown, killing over 100 militants.
This is a developing story and will be updated accordingly.