Three would-be nuclear power plant assaulters killed in Bhakkar blast: Police

Bodies found near Bhakkar border, 30km away from nuclear plant in Gorat. Police say dead were terrorists.

PUNJAB: Police recovered bodies of three suicide bombers from a bulding  near the border of Bhakkar district about 30km away from a nuclear plant in Garot, Khushab district on Thursday. The men, DPO Saifullah Khan Khattak said were terrorists and were planning to attack the nuclear plant.

The bodies were recovered from a devastated building next to a mosque in the village 46 D/B of Ali Khel area near the Bhakkar border. The area is deserted and the mosque and the building served as temporary residence for travellers.

Police officials estimated that the terrorists may have had more companions who had left the area before the police arrived as footprints of more than 12 people along with tracks of heavy vehicles could be seen at the site of the incident.

Police had arrived at the spot almost 11 hours after there were reports of a blast and had initially denied the reports. They had blamed the media for propagating terror in the area, but later confirmed the blast.

According to details, the terrorists were killed when three suicide jackets, each carrying 0.5 kg of explosives, went off as they were planning to leave their temporary residence.

Police have identified two of the terrorists as Mawia Tariq and Omar Irfan, both belonging to Mandi Bahauddin, and have shifted the bodies to DHQ Bhakkar for post mortem.

Investigations are under way to trace the companions of the terrorists and security has been tightened at all entrances of Bhakkar and Khoshab.

Earlier, intelligence reports had suggested that the Taliban were planning an assault on the nuclear power plant in Khushab, following which security around the plant had been beefed up.