PESHAWAR: Armed militants attacked three parking lots where oil tankers carrying fuel for NATO forces were stationed, killing atleast four people and wounding 17 others before blowing up around 15 such vehicles.
In an extremely daring attack early Friday morning, the miscreants first killed two guards at the main gate of the terminal situated in Garhi Qamardin on the Peshawar Ring Road, and subsequently planted explosive devices on the tankers parked there.
“More than two dozen militants entered the terminal and planted timed devices on 12 out of a total 18 fuel tankers parked at the terminal,” said senior police official Imtiaz Shah.
A total of 11 tankers were blown up as the device planted on one vehicle failed to explode. Two drivers who resisted the militants were also killed, whilst five drivers and an assistant wounded.
“Those who attacked the terminal were all militants but we don’t know yet which group they belong to,” Shah added.
Roman Khan, 25, an assistant, who was admitted to hospital with multiple burn injuries, told AFP that he was asleep in the cabin of one tanker when militants attacked the terminal.
“Some of them had covered their faces with masks. They ordered all drivers to get down and began planting some gadgets, which I could not recognize,” Khan said, also confirming the militants shot dead two drivers who tried to resist.
“They shouted that the tankers were supplying fuel to America, which is our enemy, and warned us to leave the tankers, which are being blown up.”
No group has claimed responsibility but the Taliban has claimed such attacks in the past. The bulk of supplies and equipment required by foreign troops in Afghanistan are shipped through Pakistan.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 27th, 2011.
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