Suicide bombing at Peshawar Judicial Complex kills four
Suicide bomber blew himself up in the courtroom of additional sessions judge Kulsoom Azam.
A suicide bomber first threw a grenade in the court room before blowing himself up. PHOTO: MUHAMMAD IQBAL/ EXPRESS
PESHAWAR:
Terrorists carried out an attack on the judicial complex in Peshawar on Monday.
At least four people died in the attack, while 29 were injured.
A suicide bomber, posing as a local clerk, threw a grenade in the court room of additional sessions judge Kulsoom Azam before blowing himself up.
A second bomber was shot dead by security forces and the suicide jacket was defused by bomb disposal squad.
The attackers stormed the crowded court complex in the city of Peshawar, less than two months before expected national elections.
A security guard who was injured told AFP how the two young men had tried to get past his checkpoint.
"They introduced themselves as court clerks and refused a body search. One of them pulled out a pistol and fired on me after I insisted on a search," Tahir Khan, 36, said from hospital.
"I was hit on my right arm. Then I shouted and policemen arrived and firing started. After some time, I heard a blast but I was bleeding and was later taken to hospital."
Sayed Jameel Shah, a spokesperson for Peshawar's main Lady Reading Hospital, said it had received four bodies and was treating the injured people, including four police and seven lawyers.
Each bomber had six kilogrammes of explosives and four kilogrammes of ball bearings.
The dead and injured were shifted to Lady Reading Hospital.
K-P information minister Mian Iftikhar Hussain told Express News that three officials were killed in the blast.
Hussain added that that the bombers had planned this very well.
“Even if you have very tight security, they planned to get around it.”
“Security has been improved and will continue to be improved but these incidents will continue to happen, and the twenty days leading up to elections will see more activity” Hussain said.
“These terrorists have managed to get into GHQ, Naval base and police training centres. These terrorists are everywhere but we will persevere.”
“They have not yet found success. Some incidents will continue to happen, and we have to mentally prepare for this,” Hussain added.
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END OF LIVE UPDATES
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1:40 pm
K-P information minister Mian Iftikhar Hussain told Express News that three officials were killed in the blast.
“There was an impression that militants had been holed up inside with hostages, but police have said that they have killed the militant.”
Hussain added that that the bombers had planned this very well. “Even if you have very tight security, they planned to get around it.”
“Security has been improved and will continue to be improved but these incidents will continue to happen, and the twenty days leading up to elections will see more activity” Hussain said. “These terrorists have managed to get into GHQ, Naval base and police training centres. These terrorists are everywhere but we will persevere.”
“They have not yet found success. Some incidents will continue to happen, and we have to mentally prepare for this.”
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1:20 pm
Express News correspondent Jahangir Shahzad said that police have secured the judicial complex.
Bomb disposal squad have defused the jacket off the second suicide bomber who was killed by security forces. The bomber had six kilogrammes of explosives and four kilogrammes of ball bearings.
Shahzad added that police have secured the judicial complex.
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1:10 pm
Express News reported that additional sessions judge Kulsoom Azam who was injured in the blast has been described to be in critical condition.
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1:07 pm
Minister for information Mian Iftikhar Hussain has said that some militants are still inside the judicial complex and have possibly taken some people hostage.
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1:05 pm
Express News correspondent Umar Siddique reported that at least two people have died and the number of injured have risen to 22, including four police officers.
The injured have been shifted to Lady Reading Hospital.
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1:00 pm
Express News correspondent Jahangir Shahzad reported that lady judge Kulsoom Azam was hearing a case in the main courtroom when a suicide bomber blew himself up in it.
A search operation within the judicial complex has begun.
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12:57 pm
Express News correspondent Jahangir Shahzad said that police have recovered one body.
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12:55 pm
An eyewitness said that they were in courtroom 18 when they first heard firing and five minutes later they heard and explosion. He added that it was possible some militants were still in the basement of the complex.
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12:53 pm
Express News correspondent Jahangir Shahzad said that police believe the explosion was a suicide blast. One of the bombers blew himself up in the judicial complex while a second one was engaged by the police.
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12:50 pm
Express News correspondent Umar Farooq said that the injured have risen to nine, including two police officers.
The gates of the judicial complex have been sealed.
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12:45 pm
Express News correspondent Jahangir Shahzad said that eight people including lawyers have been injured and shifted to the Lady Reading Hospital.
A number of reporters and lawyers are currently trapped in the judicial complex.
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12:40 pm
Police have cordoned off the area and people are told to stay away from the site of the blasts as firing is continuing.
The second blast was of stronger intensity than the first.
Suspected to be a suicide bomb attack.
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12:30pm
One injured has been shifted to the hospital.
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Terrorists carried out an attack on the judicial complex in Peshawar on Monday.
At least four people died in the attack, while 29 were injured.
A suicide bomber, posing as a local clerk, threw a grenade in the court room of additional sessions judge Kulsoom Azam before blowing himself up.
A second bomber was shot dead by security forces and the suicide jacket was defused by bomb disposal squad.
The attackers stormed the crowded court complex in the city of Peshawar, less than two months before expected national elections.
A security guard who was injured told AFP how the two young men had tried to get past his checkpoint.
"They introduced themselves as court clerks and refused a body search. One of them pulled out a pistol and fired on me after I insisted on a search," Tahir Khan, 36, said from hospital.
"I was hit on my right arm. Then I shouted and policemen arrived and firing started. After some time, I heard a blast but I was bleeding and was later taken to hospital."
Sayed Jameel Shah, a spokesperson for Peshawar's main Lady Reading Hospital, said it had received four bodies and was treating the injured people, including four police and seven lawyers.
Each bomber had six kilogrammes of explosives and four kilogrammes of ball bearings.
The dead and injured were shifted to Lady Reading Hospital.
K-P information minister Mian Iftikhar Hussain told Express News that three officials were killed in the blast.
Hussain added that that the bombers had planned this very well.
“Even if you have very tight security, they planned to get around it.”
“Security has been improved and will continue to be improved but these incidents will continue to happen, and the twenty days leading up to elections will see more activity” Hussain said.
“These terrorists have managed to get into GHQ, Naval base and police training centres. These terrorists are everywhere but we will persevere.”
“They have not yet found success. Some incidents will continue to happen, and we have to mentally prepare for this,” Hussain added.
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
END OF LIVE UPDATES
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
1:40 pm
K-P information minister Mian Iftikhar Hussain told Express News that three officials were killed in the blast.
“There was an impression that militants had been holed up inside with hostages, but police have said that they have killed the militant.”
Hussain added that that the bombers had planned this very well. “Even if you have very tight security, they planned to get around it.”
“Security has been improved and will continue to be improved but these incidents will continue to happen, and the twenty days leading up to elections will see more activity” Hussain said. “These terrorists have managed to get into GHQ, Naval base and police training centres. These terrorists are everywhere but we will persevere.”
“They have not yet found success. Some incidents will continue to happen, and we have to mentally prepare for this.”
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
1:20 pm
Express News correspondent Jahangir Shahzad said that police have secured the judicial complex.
Bomb disposal squad have defused the jacket off the second suicide bomber who was killed by security forces. The bomber had six kilogrammes of explosives and four kilogrammes of ball bearings.
Shahzad added that police have secured the judicial complex.
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
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1:10 pm
Express News reported that additional sessions judge Kulsoom Azam who was injured in the blast has been described to be in critical condition.
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
1:07 pm
Minister for information Mian Iftikhar Hussain has said that some militants are still inside the judicial complex and have possibly taken some people hostage.
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
1:05 pm
Express News correspondent Umar Siddique reported that at least two people have died and the number of injured have risen to 22, including four police officers.
The injured have been shifted to Lady Reading Hospital.
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
1:00 pm
Express News correspondent Jahangir Shahzad reported that lady judge Kulsoom Azam was hearing a case in the main courtroom when a suicide bomber blew himself up in it.
A search operation within the judicial complex has begun.
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
12:57 pm
Express News correspondent Jahangir Shahzad said that police have recovered one body.
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
12:55 pm
An eyewitness said that they were in courtroom 18 when they first heard firing and five minutes later they heard and explosion. He added that it was possible some militants were still in the basement of the complex.
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
12:53 pm
Express News correspondent Jahangir Shahzad said that police believe the explosion was a suicide blast. One of the bombers blew himself up in the judicial complex while a second one was engaged by the police.
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
12:50 pm
Express News correspondent Umar Farooq said that the injured have risen to nine, including two police officers.
The gates of the judicial complex have been sealed.
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
12:45 pm
Express News correspondent Jahangir Shahzad said that eight people including lawyers have been injured and shifted to the Lady Reading Hospital.
A number of reporters and lawyers are currently trapped in the judicial complex.
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
12:40 pm
Police have cordoned off the area and people are told to stay away from the site of the blasts as firing is continuing.
The second blast was of stronger intensity than the first.
Suspected to be a suicide bomb attack.
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
12:30pm
One injured has been shifted to the hospital.
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