12 killed, at least 32 injured in Peshawar car bomb blast
Bomb disposal chief says 45 kilograms 'good quality' explosives and mortar shells were packed into the car.
PESHAWAR:
A car bomb ripped through a bus station on Thursday, killing 12 people, including two children on the outskirts of Peshawar, officials said.
Bomb disposal chief Shafqat Malik said 45 kilograms (100 pounds) of “good quality” explosives and mortar shells were packed into the car to maximise destruction when the timed device detonated.
“It was a car bomb blast. Twelve people have been killed and 32 injured, we are investigating whether a suicide bomber was involved or not,” senior police official Kalam Khan told AFP.
Inspector General Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa confirmed that a car was used in the blast. “We have recovered the engine of the car and investigations are underway,” he said.
The deceased and injured were shifted to Lady Reading Hospital and Satellite Hospital.
Doctor Rahim Jan told AFP that 12 bodies had been brought into Peshawar's main Lady Reading hospital and that 35 people were wounded.
“We have imposed an emergency in the hospital,” he told AFP.
“Several bodies are charred beyond recognition. Ten to 12 of the wounded are in a critical condition,” he added.
The bomb went off on main Kohat Road. More than 10 cars parked in the parking stand were destroyed as a result of the explosion.
The road leads to Miranshah, Kohat and Dera Ismail Khan. There was a heavy rush of passengers and buses at the stand when the bomb exploded.
The area was cordoned off by the police while a heavy contingent of police and Frontier Corps had been deployed. A rescue operation was carried out.
Police also arrested a suspect from the bomb site and interrogation is underway.
A car bomb ripped through a bus station on Thursday, killing 12 people, including two children on the outskirts of Peshawar, officials said.
Bomb disposal chief Shafqat Malik said 45 kilograms (100 pounds) of “good quality” explosives and mortar shells were packed into the car to maximise destruction when the timed device detonated.
“It was a car bomb blast. Twelve people have been killed and 32 injured, we are investigating whether a suicide bomber was involved or not,” senior police official Kalam Khan told AFP.
Inspector General Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa confirmed that a car was used in the blast. “We have recovered the engine of the car and investigations are underway,” he said.
The deceased and injured were shifted to Lady Reading Hospital and Satellite Hospital.
Doctor Rahim Jan told AFP that 12 bodies had been brought into Peshawar's main Lady Reading hospital and that 35 people were wounded.
“We have imposed an emergency in the hospital,” he told AFP.
“Several bodies are charred beyond recognition. Ten to 12 of the wounded are in a critical condition,” he added.
The bomb went off on main Kohat Road. More than 10 cars parked in the parking stand were destroyed as a result of the explosion.
The road leads to Miranshah, Kohat and Dera Ismail Khan. There was a heavy rush of passengers and buses at the stand when the bomb exploded.
The area was cordoned off by the police while a heavy contingent of police and Frontier Corps had been deployed. A rescue operation was carried out.
Police also arrested a suspect from the bomb site and interrogation is underway.