Terror attack averted: Three militants killed as suicide vest explodes

Local says after crossing Kafoor Dheri check post, entering into city was easy

PESHAWAR: The city was saved from a major disaster on Friday when three militants were killed after the explosive vest one of them was wearing accidentally exploded on Sufidsang Road within the jurisdiction of Regi police station.

The militants were travelling on a motorbike in the morning when one of the suicide vests went off prematurely, killing all three of them on the spot.

A second suicide vest, eight hand grenades and one AK-47 rifle with two magazines were found from the site by the police. The other suicide vest and hand grenades were defused by Bomb Disposal Unit (BDU) teams.

Speaking to The Express Tribune, Cantt SP Kashif Zulfiqar said the three militants were travelling on a bike.

“One of them was wearing the vest while another was carrying the other explosive vest, rifle and hand grenades,” he said.

Zulfiqar added all of them were killed in the blast that followed.

“We can assume terrorists were travelling on two or more bikes and the number of suicide bombers was more than one, but the accidental blast caused them to flee,” Zulfiqar said.

He added the deceased appear to be Uzbeks but it was premature to conclude anything at this point.

Another policeman said two of the deceased looked like foreigners while one of them appeared to be a local.

Locals told The Express Tribune there was a police check post in the area which the terrorists had crossed successfully and were en route to Peshawar city when the incident took place.

“Once you cross the only check post in Kafoor Dheri, there are no police posts or checkpoints for miles,” a local told The Express Tribune.

He added, “Using dozens of small routes suitable for bikes, you can enter Peshawar almost unnoticed.”

The resident also said it was sheer bad luck for the militants that their vest exploded by mistake, saving Peshawar from a major disaster.

He said the incident took place around 3am but was reported to the police at about 7am when locals found the bike and mutilated bodies in the area.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 21^st, 2016.