Blast outside Peshawar cinema injures eight people

Police say blast was due to the generator exploding but sources claim it was a grenade.

PESHAWAR: A low intensity blast outside a cinema in Peshawar left eight people injured late on Thursday night.

The explosion took place took place outside the Picture House Cinema on Cinema road at a time when there were people inside the building watching a local Pashto title.

The blast caused panic among the public, forcing them to flee the area.

Talking to The Express Tribune, SHO Sattar Khattak of the Khan Raziq police station, said the explosion was a result of a cracker blast outside the cinema, contrary to an earlier report of an explosion in a power generator. “Two people were injured in the panic caused by the loud blast and they have suffered minor injuries,” he said, adding that Bomb Disposal Unit was busy inspecting the site of the explosion.

He said that the explosion was aimed at creating panic among the people.

A Lady Reading Hospital spokesperson though said at least eight people injured in the incident had been brought to the hospice for treatment.

It is worth mentioning here that it is the second low intensity blast in the jurisdiction of the same police station in the past 10 days. Earlier a blast outside a shop left five shops slightly damaged.

Militants have targeted cinema houses and Peshawar stores selling movies on CDs and DVDs have also been attacked in the past.