Suicide bomber kills 24, injures 66 in Bajaur Agency
Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) claim responsibility for the attack.
KHAR/PESHAWAR:
At least 24 people, including seven Levies personnel, were killed while 66 others were injured on Friday when a suicide bomber attacked security personnel in Khar Bazaar, the main town of Bajaur Agency.
A curfew was imposed in the area for an indefinite period after the attack.
The Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) claimed responsibility for the attack.
"We carried out the attack today," said TTP spokesman Ehsanullah Ehsan. "We are very happy today that we have achieved our target."
A senior official from the area, Hasib Khan, told The Express Tribune that a suicide bomber – reportedly a teenager – detonated himself near a Levies check post in the middle of the main square in Khar Bazaar. “Seven Leives personnel died in the attack,” he said.
A senior official of the political administration, Fida Muhammad, was also killed in the attack.
Political Agent Islam Zed, while confirming that it was a suicide attack, said that the security had been beefed up after Thursday’s attack in Bajaur Agency, even then the attack couldn’t be thwarted.
He said no transport, except for ambulances and vehicles carrying the injured, was being allowed to enter or leave the area as a result of the curfew.
All shops were closed after the imposition of the curfew except for pharmacies, which remained open in case of an emergency.
An official from the area told The Express Tribune that initial reports suggested that the target of the bomber was Subedar Major Javed and Subedar Quarter Master Fazl Rabi, who was also honoured with the Tamgha-e-Shujaat award.
Some of the injured who were shifted to Agency Headquarter Hospital Khar said that the bomber was a young boy who attacked Levies personnel seated outside a shop, owned by Haji Ramzan.
The commander of Bajaur Scouts told The Express Tribune that there were reports of the suicide bomber coming from across the border and staying overnight in the area before carrying out the attack.
All shops were closed after the imposition of the curfew except for pharmacies, which remained open in case of an emergency.
One of the injured explained that the bomber ran towards the security officials and detonated himself.
Officials are investigating the matter.
Officials at the Agency Headquarter Hospital said that the condition of many injured was critical and that some of them might be shifted to Peshawar and other nearby districts. An emergency has been declared at the hospital.
On Thursday, five people, including three security officials, were killed while one person suffered injuries when two roadside Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) went off in Bajaur Agency.
Officials had said that two of the men were from the FC while one was from the Bajaur Levies.
At least 24 people, including seven Levies personnel, were killed while 66 others were injured on Friday when a suicide bomber attacked security personnel in Khar Bazaar, the main town of Bajaur Agency.
A curfew was imposed in the area for an indefinite period after the attack.
The Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) claimed responsibility for the attack.
"We carried out the attack today," said TTP spokesman Ehsanullah Ehsan. "We are very happy today that we have achieved our target."
A senior official from the area, Hasib Khan, told The Express Tribune that a suicide bomber – reportedly a teenager – detonated himself near a Levies check post in the middle of the main square in Khar Bazaar. “Seven Leives personnel died in the attack,” he said.
A senior official of the political administration, Fida Muhammad, was also killed in the attack.
Political Agent Islam Zed, while confirming that it was a suicide attack, said that the security had been beefed up after Thursday’s attack in Bajaur Agency, even then the attack couldn’t be thwarted.
He said no transport, except for ambulances and vehicles carrying the injured, was being allowed to enter or leave the area as a result of the curfew.
All shops were closed after the imposition of the curfew except for pharmacies, which remained open in case of an emergency.
An official from the area told The Express Tribune that initial reports suggested that the target of the bomber was Subedar Major Javed and Subedar Quarter Master Fazl Rabi, who was also honoured with the Tamgha-e-Shujaat award.
Some of the injured who were shifted to Agency Headquarter Hospital Khar said that the bomber was a young boy who attacked Levies personnel seated outside a shop, owned by Haji Ramzan.
The commander of Bajaur Scouts told The Express Tribune that there were reports of the suicide bomber coming from across the border and staying overnight in the area before carrying out the attack.
All shops were closed after the imposition of the curfew except for pharmacies, which remained open in case of an emergency.
One of the injured explained that the bomber ran towards the security officials and detonated himself.
Officials are investigating the matter.
Officials at the Agency Headquarter Hospital said that the condition of many injured was critical and that some of them might be shifted to Peshawar and other nearby districts. An emergency has been declared at the hospital.
On Thursday, five people, including three security officials, were killed while one person suffered injuries when two roadside Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) went off in Bajaur Agency.
Officials had said that two of the men were from the FC while one was from the Bajaur Levies.