Charsadda blast kills four

CHARSADDA: At least four people were killed on Monday in a blast at a mosque in Charsadda, just hours after the United States said it killed al Qaeda leader Osama Bin Laden in Abbottabad.

The attack took place in the limits of Umerzai Police station in Charsadda, about 85 miles west of Abbottabad where US Special Forces killed Bin Laden.

Security agencies cordoned off the area and the injured were shifted to the hospital where emergency was imposed. A bomb disposal squad was sent to the site and rescue operations were launched.

According to the Bomb Disposal Unit, the bomb – a remote-controlled device – weighed 70 kilogrammes.

The mosque is located near a police station, which appeared to be the target, local police Chief Nisar Khan Marwat said.

At least 11 people were also wounded; three of them police officials and one passer-by.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 3^rd, 2011.