Suicide hit in Islamabad: Guard loses life, saves bank

Four people were injured in the attack that took place at 2 pm.

ISLAMABAD:

After almost a gap of 18 months, the terror of suicide bombings revisited the federal capital when a teenage suicide bomber blew himself up at the entrance of a bank in sector I-8 in Islamabad, killing a security guard and injuring four others.

Forensic experts said the suicide vest used in the blast, which took place at Silkbank, carried five to six kilogrammes of explosives and could have inflicted more damage had  the security guard not intercepted the bomber at the entrance of the bank.

The explosion completely shattered the building’s facade. The area was cordoned off within minutes of the blast as police and rescue teams approached the scene and shifted the injured to Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims) where Muhammad Shabir, the security guard, died of injuries.

“He lived for only half-an-hour after he was brought here. His body was burnt and sustained multiple shrapnel wounds,” said an official of the hospital. Another security guard, Maqbool Ahmed, also suffered injuries but doctors said his condition was stable.

Manager Operations at the bank, Zulqarnain Mujahid, also suffered serious injuries. He was later shifted to Shifa International Hospital while Haseeb Ahmed, a sanitary worker, and Shani Boota Masih were discharged from the hospital after emergency treatment. CCTV footage obtained by Express News showed that the alleged bomber was between 18 and 19 years of age. He was carrying a shoulder bag with him and was wearing a grey colored shalwar kameez.

Later, Interior Minister Rehman Malik said such attacks were a planned activity to scare off the banking sector in the country. The minister feared more attacks saying al Qaeda terrorists were out to avenge the killing of Osama bin Laden. Malik said he has recommended that the Sitara-e-Shujaat, a civilian decoration, be awarded to the security guard who stopped the bomber.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 14^th, 2011.