Day 2: Lakki Marwat– Four killed in botched attempt on police station

Eid festivities are marred as locals mourn the attack.

PESHAWAR:

Four people killed in the suicide attack in Lakki Marwat on Thursday were laid to rest in their hometowns on Friday amid tight security.

Four persons were killed and 24, including 12 policemen, were injured when a suicide bomber in a vehicle was fired upon by police personnel.

The bomber had attempted to ram the vehicle into the wall of a police checkpost in Darra Paizu area of Lakki Marwat District during the early hours of Thursday. The injured included women and children.

The vehicle exploded in the market area in which a number of nearby houses and shops were also damaged.

A local, while talking to The Express Tribune, said that many people participated in the funeral procession. He added that people of Lakki Marwat mourned the deaths which hampered Eid celebrations in the town.

“It was the third day of Eid when this incident occurred. People were enjoying the festivities when the militant struck. They are simply targeting innocents,” he said, adding that the situation was quite tense in the area.

On Friday, locals were still busy removing debris of the destroyed houses and shops while the injured had been shifted to local hospitals in Dera Ismail Khan, Bannu and Lakki Marwat.

Official sources said security had been tightened in Tank and adjoining areas after the incident and a search operation was also under way to nab miscreants.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 3^rd, 2011.