High-intensity blasts: Suicide bomber dies in central Kurram

Man killed in IED blast in Hangu.

PARACHINAR: A militant died in a suicide blast when he detonated his explosive vest amid tight security in central Kurram Agency on Wednesday.

An official of the security forces said the incident occurred at around 10:45am. They said a suicide bomber was trying to target a tribal elder, Malik Sagheer Khan, in Zarmela area of central Kurram.

The official added the bomber was spotted at a check post and security forces took up their positions and told him to surrender. However, the militant detonated his vest with a huge explosion. The official said no other loss of life was reported in the incident.



Hangu

A driver was killed when an improvised explosive device (IED) exploded at a roadside in Doaba area of Hangu on Wednesday.

Thal Deputy Superintendent Police (DSP), Shaukat Ali Shah, while talking to the press, said the incident occurred at around 11:00am when the driver, Muhammad Iqbal, was working on road construction between Kadha and Darsamand. A high-intensity bomb planted by unidentified militants detonated, killing the driver on the spot and destroying the vehicle.

The DSP said so far nobody has claimed responsibility for the attack. “We believe the IED was planted to target the convoys of security forces that pass through the area,” he added.

Hangu Bomb Disposal Squad In-charge, Asadullah, said it was a huge explosion in which around 11 kilogrammes of explosives were used.

Meanwhile, two people were injured when an IED detonated on Bannu-Miranshah road.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 24^th, 2013.