A suicide bomber blew himself up after police challenged him near an Imambargah in a southern district of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa on Friday.
Elsewhere in the volatile province, police repulsed an attack on the office of a senior police officer. According to police officer Muneeb Khan, the suicide bomber – aged between 18 and 20 – wanted to approach a mourning procession in Mohalla Syedan, Lakki Marwat, at 7.20pm when a police constable manning a checkpoint challenged him.
“The bomber, who was wearing a shawl, fired at the police constable while trying to escape,” Khan told The Express Tribune. Police chased the bomber who found himself trapped in a dead-end street. “Suddenly, the bomber detonated the explosives strapped to his body,” Khan added.
Police recovered the severed head and torso of the bomber and sent it for a DNA test, according to Khan.
Police officer’s office attacked
In Nowshera, suspected militants attacked the office of District Police Officer (DPO) Hussain Khan. However, timely retaliation from the police guard forced the attackers to flee.
“Armed militants attacked the DPO office, which is located in the jurisdiction of Azakhel police station,” police officer Fazal Rabi said. However, the police guard challenged the attackers and forced them to flee after a firefight.
In the meantime, police reinforcement was rushed to the site – but the attackers had fled the scene by the time. Police have mounted a manhunt for the attackers.
House attacked with bomb
In Gilgit, unidentified men hurled a home-made bomb at a house late Friday night, whipping up fear among residents of the volatile city.
Ali Sher, the deputy inspector general (DIG) of police, said it was a crude, home-made device. “The explosion did not cause any casualties,” he added.
The blast took place at a time when mourning processions were returning to Imambargahs and mosques in Konodas area. However, DIG Sher said it was not a sectarian attack and that the house was bombed over a property dispute. Police registered a case and started an investigation.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 24th, 2012.
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