Five hurt in botched attack
Explosive laden car detonates near houses after Policemen shoot at the car as its occupants tried to escape.
PESHAWAR:
At least five people, including a woman, were injured when a vehicle laden with explosives was destroyed by the police before it could reach its target in Ghaznikhel police station limits of Lakki Marwat district on Monday, police said. Three houses were completely destroyed and two others were partially damaged in the attack.
A police official told The Express Tribune that they had been tipped off about the entry of the vehicle into the district from the Frontier Region (FR) Lakki area. Therefore, they set up barricades on all routes leading into the district from the FR area. Upon the approach of a double-cabin Surf vehicle, the driver was signalled to stop near Jaboo Khel village in Ghazni Khel police station limits, some 30 kilometres from Lakki town, but instead of stopping, the car sped away. The police pursued the vehicle and aimed their guns at its tyres which tore open. The suicide bomber took the vehicle close to the houses and detonated the explosives.
Rafiullah, one of those injured, said the blast had been huge. The vehicle had been blown to bits, destroying Rafiullah’s shop and three other houses in the neighbourhood. Two other houses were partially damaged. The sound of the blast was heard in areas several kilometres away.
The police cordoned off the site and shifted the injured to a local hospital, while launching a search operation for suspected militants in the area.
Police sources said that the security in the district was on high alert, following reports of an entry of an explosive laden vehicle and a motorcycle. This was the second suicide attack in the district, in the last month and a half. Earlier on September 6, a suicide bomber rammed his explosives laden vehicle into Lakki City police station, killing at least 19 people, including several policemen, and injuring scores of others.
One of the deadliest terrorist attacks in the province’s history was carried out in Lakki Marwat district, when a suicide bomber detonated his double cabin load of explosives in a playground during a volleyball game in Shah Hassan Khel village in January this year. At least 100 locals were killed and many others were injured.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 19th, 2010.
At least five people, including a woman, were injured when a vehicle laden with explosives was destroyed by the police before it could reach its target in Ghaznikhel police station limits of Lakki Marwat district on Monday, police said. Three houses were completely destroyed and two others were partially damaged in the attack.
A police official told The Express Tribune that they had been tipped off about the entry of the vehicle into the district from the Frontier Region (FR) Lakki area. Therefore, they set up barricades on all routes leading into the district from the FR area. Upon the approach of a double-cabin Surf vehicle, the driver was signalled to stop near Jaboo Khel village in Ghazni Khel police station limits, some 30 kilometres from Lakki town, but instead of stopping, the car sped away. The police pursued the vehicle and aimed their guns at its tyres which tore open. The suicide bomber took the vehicle close to the houses and detonated the explosives.
Rafiullah, one of those injured, said the blast had been huge. The vehicle had been blown to bits, destroying Rafiullah’s shop and three other houses in the neighbourhood. Two other houses were partially damaged. The sound of the blast was heard in areas several kilometres away.
The police cordoned off the site and shifted the injured to a local hospital, while launching a search operation for suspected militants in the area.
Police sources said that the security in the district was on high alert, following reports of an entry of an explosive laden vehicle and a motorcycle. This was the second suicide attack in the district, in the last month and a half. Earlier on September 6, a suicide bomber rammed his explosives laden vehicle into Lakki City police station, killing at least 19 people, including several policemen, and injuring scores of others.
One of the deadliest terrorist attacks in the province’s history was carried out in Lakki Marwat district, when a suicide bomber detonated his double cabin load of explosives in a playground during a volleyball game in Shah Hassan Khel village in January this year. At least 100 locals were killed and many others were injured.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 19th, 2010.