Policeman among three injured in Swabi blast

A remote-controlled bomb which was planted in a bicycle went off as the police vehicle drove past it in Swabi.

SWABI: Three people, including an official of the Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS), were injured when a bomb planted in a bicycle went off on Swabi-Mardan Road on Friday.

“The police personnel were returning after filling air in tyres of the van when the explosion occurred,” SHO Izhar Khan said while talking to The Express Tribune. He said that around 12:15pm he was informed that an explosion had occurred near the mobile of ATS after which he, along with police personnel, rushed to the area.

“The bomb, which was planted in a canister, detonated soon after when the van passed through the area,” the SHO added.

“ATS constable Salam was injured along with a cobbler sitting nearby named Abdul Wahab and a pedestrian named Ashiq was injured in the blast and were rushed to the District Headquarters Hospital where doctors administered them with initial treatment,” said Khan. “They sustained minor injuries.”

Khan further added that the van was partially damaged along with a car and another bicycle parked nearby. He added that that one kilogramme of explosives was used in the bomb that was planted on the carrier of the bicycle.

On Thursday, unidentified assailants opened fire at police patrolling van near Shahmansoor Town, five kilometers south of Swabi City, damaging the vehicle. The personnel on board remained safe.

Correction: Express News had earlier misreported that a bomb was recovered and defused from the Saddar area of Peshawar and that a policeman was killed in the blast. The error is regretted.