Deadly day: Friday’s attacks believed to be interconnected
Officials say Mardan court blast happened when Christian colony’s attack failed
Police official showing a suicide jacket defuse by bomb disposal squad as security forces foiled a terrorists attack on Christian Colony Warsak. PHOTO: AFPP
PESHAWAR:
Fear of the “Deadly Friday” returned to Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa when militants unleashed two major attacks in Peshawar and Mardan. However, the police believed Jamaatul Ahrar, hailing from Mohmand Agency, planned to carry out the attacks in three districts of the province.
Charsadda DPO Sohail Khalid told The Express Tribune they had apprehended two militants, averting an attack that was planned, on the same day when the attacks near Warsak and in Mardan took place.
The militants were travelling from Mohmand to Charsadda, Khalid said. “We know how the group operates.” He explained that suicide vests and hand grenades, along with other weapons, had been seized from the militants who were arrested. “The way the specific militant group operates is that although they might be interconnected, they are not aware of it.”
Attempts
However, security officials in Peshawar said the attack took place in Peshawar where “timely response avoided bloodshed”. It was aimed at the Warsak Garrison.
“We believe the attack on Christian colony was carried out in haste,” an official said. “The attack in Mardan was in reaction to the failed attempt near Warsak.”
However, he added, the attackers in Christian colony first shot dead Samuel Masih when they entered the premises of the colony – it was the only fatal casualty of the attack.
On hearing gunshots, the private security guards opened fire. Subsequently, the military personnel who were stationed at Army Public School (APS) on Warsak Road also responded.
“It was at this point the attackers took refuge in an under-construction building within the premises of the colony,” he said. “The Quick Response Force (QRF) reached the site and engaged the heavily armed militants from the roof of the nearby mosque.”
When the QRF personnel entered the building, three of the bombers detonated their suicide vests there, while the fourth one ran out and exploded, he added. “Many lives could be saved because the bombers were confined in a place that had no one living in it.”
Looming threat
The security officials maintained threat spiral for Mardan and DI Khan was the highest among the districts of the province. There have been three suicide attacks or attempted ones.
“The Mardan bar and three other institutions had received threats,” a police official told The Express Tribune. “Additional security was provided, but there were no specific involved.”
The officials concerned said initial investigation shows the bomber is not a Pakistani.
Mardan DPO Faisal Shahzad told The Express Tribune the bomber might have tried to enter the bar room where there were between 170 and 200 people gathered every day. However, he added, the attacker was intercepted by a police constable, Junaid, near the entrance where he blew himself up.
“There seems to a deliberate attempt to carry out attacks against security personnel, police and judiciary all in one day,” a security official commented. “While groups like the TTP and Lashkar-e-Islam might have been exhausted, TTP Jamaatul Ahrar, that operates from Afghanistan, still possesses the financial power to [carry out such attacks].”
Major Attacks On Lawyers And Courts In K-P
August 4, 2016
Two IEDs go off outside a court in Charsadda. At least five town municipal authority workers injured.
March 7, 2016
Suicide blast in Shabqadar Bazaar as suicide bomber tries to enter district court. Over a dozen killed, including three police personnel.
November 2, 2015
Attack on the vehicle of additional sessions judge Hina Khan leaves her naib qasid dead in Haripur.
March 18, 2015
Lawyer Samiullah Afridi shot dead in Aslam Dheri, Mathra.
Sept 10, 2013
Attack on court in Kohat leaves a policeman dead and nine others injured.
March 18, 2013
Terrorists carry out two suicide attacks on the judicial complex in Peshawar. At least four people lost their lives and 29 others were injured.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 3rd, 2016.
Fear of the “Deadly Friday” returned to Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa when militants unleashed two major attacks in Peshawar and Mardan. However, the police believed Jamaatul Ahrar, hailing from Mohmand Agency, planned to carry out the attacks in three districts of the province.
Charsadda DPO Sohail Khalid told The Express Tribune they had apprehended two militants, averting an attack that was planned, on the same day when the attacks near Warsak and in Mardan took place.
The militants were travelling from Mohmand to Charsadda, Khalid said. “We know how the group operates.” He explained that suicide vests and hand grenades, along with other weapons, had been seized from the militants who were arrested. “The way the specific militant group operates is that although they might be interconnected, they are not aware of it.”
Attempts
However, security officials in Peshawar said the attack took place in Peshawar where “timely response avoided bloodshed”. It was aimed at the Warsak Garrison.
“We believe the attack on Christian colony was carried out in haste,” an official said. “The attack in Mardan was in reaction to the failed attempt near Warsak.”
However, he added, the attackers in Christian colony first shot dead Samuel Masih when they entered the premises of the colony – it was the only fatal casualty of the attack.
On hearing gunshots, the private security guards opened fire. Subsequently, the military personnel who were stationed at Army Public School (APS) on Warsak Road also responded.
“It was at this point the attackers took refuge in an under-construction building within the premises of the colony,” he said. “The Quick Response Force (QRF) reached the site and engaged the heavily armed militants from the roof of the nearby mosque.”
When the QRF personnel entered the building, three of the bombers detonated their suicide vests there, while the fourth one ran out and exploded, he added. “Many lives could be saved because the bombers were confined in a place that had no one living in it.”
Looming threat
The security officials maintained threat spiral for Mardan and DI Khan was the highest among the districts of the province. There have been three suicide attacks or attempted ones.
“The Mardan bar and three other institutions had received threats,” a police official told The Express Tribune. “Additional security was provided, but there were no specific involved.”
The officials concerned said initial investigation shows the bomber is not a Pakistani.
Mardan DPO Faisal Shahzad told The Express Tribune the bomber might have tried to enter the bar room where there were between 170 and 200 people gathered every day. However, he added, the attacker was intercepted by a police constable, Junaid, near the entrance where he blew himself up.
“There seems to a deliberate attempt to carry out attacks against security personnel, police and judiciary all in one day,” a security official commented. “While groups like the TTP and Lashkar-e-Islam might have been exhausted, TTP Jamaatul Ahrar, that operates from Afghanistan, still possesses the financial power to [carry out such attacks].”
Major Attacks On Lawyers And Courts In K-P
August 4, 2016
Two IEDs go off outside a court in Charsadda. At least five town municipal authority workers injured.
March 7, 2016
Suicide blast in Shabqadar Bazaar as suicide bomber tries to enter district court. Over a dozen killed, including three police personnel.
November 2, 2015
Attack on the vehicle of additional sessions judge Hina Khan leaves her naib qasid dead in Haripur.
March 18, 2015
Lawyer Samiullah Afridi shot dead in Aslam Dheri, Mathra.
Sept 10, 2013
Attack on court in Kohat leaves a policeman dead and nine others injured.
March 18, 2013
Terrorists carry out two suicide attacks on the judicial complex in Peshawar. At least four people lost their lives and 29 others were injured.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 3rd, 2016.