Deadly strike: Seven security men die in suicide hit on convoy

Curfew imposed in North Waziristan Agency; scores of vehicles left stranded in the area.

MIRAMSHAH:

Up to seven security forces personnel were killed and 12 others injured when a vehicle carrying an improvised explosive device collided with a security forces vehicle near a Frontier Works Organisation (FWO) site in North Waziristan Agency.

The attack, which took place around 5:30pm on Tuesday, targeted a vehicle carrying security personnel deputed for the protection of FWO workers at Dirdhoni check-post in Ghulam Khan tehsil, five kilometres north of the agency headquarters in Miramshah.

Security officials reported that immediately after the huge explosion, security personnel deputed at the check-post rushed to rescue the injured. The deceased and injured were airlifted to the Combined Military Hospital in Bannu and Peshawar for immediate medical attention. Casualties from the attack were expected to increase as some of the injured were in a critical condition, officials said.

A tribesman, who was on his way home at the time of the explosion, said he saw“a huge ball of fire leap up into the sky followed by thick smoke. There was heavy gunfire by security personnel after the attack, he said.

Political administration officials and locals reported that the explosion occurred when a suicide attacker rammed his vehicle into a security forces convoy protecting an FWO truck carrying workers. Officials added that the area was immediately cordoned off by security forces after the explosion and a curfew was imposed across the agency. Announcements through loudspeakers asked local tribesmen to restrict their movements and remain indoors.

Meanwhile, scores of vehicles crossing the agency limits were reported to be stranded as a result of the curfew.

This is the second such attack in the agency after a suicide attacker rammed his explosives laden oil tanker in Esha check-post, on March 23 in Miramshah. The attack had left 18 security personnel dead and another 40 injured.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 17^th, 2013.