Sinister designs: Bomb hoaxes abound as days of fear continue
Second day of fake threats; many areas closed as precaution; worry in the air.
PESHAWAR:
The Greek tragedian Sophocles wrote, “To him who is in fear, everything rustles.”
As bomb hoaxes continued to fray the nerves of people in the provincial metropolis for the second consecutive day on Friday, Sophocles words rang true for much of the citizenry.
There were reports of an explosives-laden vehicle in the provincial metropolis and short message service (SMS) texts asking people to avoid going to certain places were also being widely circulated.
Earlier, University Road was closed after bomb threats at a cellular company’s office. University Road remained closed and Custom House was evacuated following rumours. There were similar reports about Khyber Bazaar, and Army Stadium was evacuated after a threat, which bomb detection teams disproved.
On Thursday, there were reports of an explosives-laden vehicle in the city which may target the paramilitary Frontier Constabulary’s (FC) headquarters situated on Sunehri Masjid Road in Peshawar Cantonment.
FC petrol pump, Dil Jan Market and FC plaza were closed down following the reports and a large number of FC personnel were deputed on Sunehri Masjid Road. Though the concerned police stations denied receiving any such information, a police official admitted to The Express Tribune that there were indeed reports that FC had received threats.
FC plaza, Dil Jan Market and FC petrol pump remained closed on Friday and security personnel were positioned near these buildings.
“The market was closed on Thursday afternoon and a large number of FC personnel came here and began checking every vehicle on the road,” Rickshaw driver Shahid Khan told The Express Tribune.
“Some people die in blasts, while others run away from city for the security of their lives,” Khan added.
Fridays are considered sensitive in the city, following repeated attacks on Fridays during the spate of bombings in 2009. Since then, authorities close Peshawar cantonment’s Saddar Road on Friday evening for most traffic.
There were SMS messages asking people to not to go to Peshawar Cantonment. “Do not go to Saddar (Cantt area). A strong threat of explosion there anytime,” said one such SMS, which falsely claimed to be quoting police sources.
Cantonment ASI Khalid Hamdani said he did not have specific information on the threats, but did not comment when asked if they had received bomb threats or if the text messages were hoaxes.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 18th, 2011.
The Greek tragedian Sophocles wrote, “To him who is in fear, everything rustles.”
As bomb hoaxes continued to fray the nerves of people in the provincial metropolis for the second consecutive day on Friday, Sophocles words rang true for much of the citizenry.
There were reports of an explosives-laden vehicle in the provincial metropolis and short message service (SMS) texts asking people to avoid going to certain places were also being widely circulated.
Earlier, University Road was closed after bomb threats at a cellular company’s office. University Road remained closed and Custom House was evacuated following rumours. There were similar reports about Khyber Bazaar, and Army Stadium was evacuated after a threat, which bomb detection teams disproved.
On Thursday, there were reports of an explosives-laden vehicle in the city which may target the paramilitary Frontier Constabulary’s (FC) headquarters situated on Sunehri Masjid Road in Peshawar Cantonment.
FC petrol pump, Dil Jan Market and FC plaza were closed down following the reports and a large number of FC personnel were deputed on Sunehri Masjid Road. Though the concerned police stations denied receiving any such information, a police official admitted to The Express Tribune that there were indeed reports that FC had received threats.
FC plaza, Dil Jan Market and FC petrol pump remained closed on Friday and security personnel were positioned near these buildings.
“The market was closed on Thursday afternoon and a large number of FC personnel came here and began checking every vehicle on the road,” Rickshaw driver Shahid Khan told The Express Tribune.
“Some people die in blasts, while others run away from city for the security of their lives,” Khan added.
Fridays are considered sensitive in the city, following repeated attacks on Fridays during the spate of bombings in 2009. Since then, authorities close Peshawar cantonment’s Saddar Road on Friday evening for most traffic.
There were SMS messages asking people to not to go to Peshawar Cantonment. “Do not go to Saddar (Cantt area). A strong threat of explosion there anytime,” said one such SMS, which falsely claimed to be quoting police sources.
Cantonment ASI Khalid Hamdani said he did not have specific information on the threats, but did not comment when asked if they had received bomb threats or if the text messages were hoaxes.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 18th, 2011.