Blast outside girls school in Mardan kills policeman

Eight people, including 3 police officials, were also injured during inspection of site.

PESHAWAR: A police constable was killed while eight others were injured when an IED blew off outside a Girls High School in Mardan District, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Tuesday. Three police officials were also injured in the incident.

The blast took place when the police reached the Parhoti Girls High School where locals reported a bomb placed in the heap of dirt piled outside the school.

“There was another Improvised Explosive Device (IED) hidden there,” said Sher Alam Shinwari, Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Mardan while speaking to The Express Tribune.

“It was a remote controlled bomb planted to target the police officials who came to diffuse the bomb,” said Shinwari.

The police constable who was killed in the incident was identified as Allahnawaz of the Rider Squad.

All eight injured were shifted to the District Headquarter (DHQ) Hospital where they were being treated. “No school going children were injured as it was well before the time the school starts when the incident occurred,” said the police.

Schools, colleges and other government installations have been consistently attacked by militants in the areas in and around Mardan. Police and security officials have arrested a number of suspected militants in raids in the last few weeks involved in destroying schools.