Six killed in Mingora suicide attack

A suicide bomber killed at least six people, including two women, and injured around 60 in a busy market in Mingora in Swat district on Thursday, police and medical personnel said.

Police confirmed at least six deaths in the blast, which rattled the Swat district after months of relative calm.

Eyewitnesses and police said the blast occurred near the busy General Bus Stand of Mingora when a suicide bomber detonated explosives strapped to his body near some tourists’ vehicles.

Aminul Haq, an eyewitness, told reporters that he was serving water to tourists sitting in two cars when the blast went off with huge bang. He said large clouds of smoke engulfed the area immediately.

DIG Malakand Division Qazi Jamilur Rehman told reporters that it was not clear whether the attack was a suicide blast or a car bomb attack. However, police officials told The Express Tribune said that it was a suicide attack, adding that parts of the bomber’s body had been recovered from the scene.

Those killed in the attack were identified as Amjad Ali, a resident of Swat, Tahir Zeb, a resident of Peshawar, Sofian, a resident of Lahore, and Almas Begum. The injured were rushed to the Saidu Group of Hospitals and four victims who were in a critical condition were sent to Lady Reading Hospital (LRH) in Peshawar. Security forces cordoned off the site following the blast and closed Mingora-Saidu Sharif Road.

The blast comes in the wake of a peace festival to promote tourism in Swat.

The first phase of the peace festival, held in Swat’s capital Mingora, has concluded, but its second phase is under way in Kalam and will continue until July 18.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 16^th, 2010.