Blast in Mingora kills two

MINGORA: Two people were killed and several injured in a blast that took place in the China market at Sohrab Khan Chowk in Mingora on Saturday.

The explosion was triggered by a suicide bomber. Speaking to the media, security forces said one of the accomplices of the suicide bomber was arrested and a second killed in a shootout by security forces. The third was able to detonate the explosive and blow himself up. The plaza building, located in a highly bustling point of the city, was completely demolished in the blast and adjoining buildings have also been damaged.

Eye witnesses have reported that three people have been killed in the blast while security forces report the number of casualties to be two.

Security forces have cordoned off the area, fearing a threat of more explosions.  Shops have been closed and curfew has been imposed in the area. The injured have been shifted to Saidu Sharif hospital.

This, and other recent incidents of violence in the region of Swat have renewed fears of the Taliban returning to the region where earlier reports of a return to normalcy had given hopes to residents of peace in the area.