Police believe bombers in Warsak wanted long siege

Four suspected facilitators arrested

SHABQADAR/ PESHAWAR: The police believe the four suicide bombers who attacked Christian colony in Warsak wanted a long and bloody siege as they were carrying a large quantity of arms and ammunition besides wearing suicide vests.

While talking to The Express Tribune, a police official said the suicide attackers were armed to the teeth as three AK-47 rifles and hand grenades, along with body parts of the bombers, were found at the site of the attack. “Two skulls [said to be of the attackers] also remained intact.”



The official added the attackers were well-equipped. “They were four out of which three had AK-47s and one had a pistol, besides hand grenades and other ammunition,” he said. “All of them were wearing powerful suicide vests and were carrying with them water bottles too which suggests they wanted a long siege and planned to hold [the locals] hostage, but we have not found any edibles.”

They were hiding in the trees near Christian colony and entered when the gates were opened early in the morning, he said. “The guards were preparing for the morning prayers. Both the civil guards, hired by Wapda for the security of the colony, were injured but they retaliated and kept the terrorists engaged till the police arrived.”

He added the terrorists had closed the main gate from inside so the police had to climb the wall to open it. “One of the suicide bombers had already blown himself before the police arrived –three of them were killed after the exchange of fire.”



One of the suicide bombers is said to have entered a house and took the inhabitants hostage, but did not kill them. “He left when police entered the colony and blew himself up in the same house, resulting in the collapse of the structure.”

“We have not seen water supplies with suicide bombers before. It means they wanted a long a bloody drama,” he said. “Locking of the gate of the walled colony from inside was a sign they were not expecting any resistance.” On the other hand, four people suspected to have facilitated the Christian colony, Warsak attack were arrested from Michni, the area that borders Mohmand and Peshawar.



A police official, who was part of the operation, has confirmed the arrest of the suspected facilitators involved in the attack on Christian colony.

He said the suspected persons were arrested on Friday from Kas Korona, situated on the border of Mohmand and Peshawar and is around a kilometre at the north-east of Warsak.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 4^th, 2016.