Guilty as charged: Shama Cinema attacker confesses in court

PESHAWAR:

Hassan, a 15-year-old boy, allegedly behind the three blasts that ripped through Shama Cinema was sent to Central Jail Peshawar, after he confessed in court to having carried out the February 11 attack.

The boy is a resident of Bara, Khyber Agency, and was presented before an anti-terrorism court to record his statement. He was then produced before judicial magistrate Muhammad Ilyas by the Faqirabad police. As the suspect had confessed to the accusations against him willingly, the court sent him to prison on a 14-day judicial remand.

Earlier this month, three blasts in Shama Cinema killed 14 moviegoers and injured 25 others. Police had nabbed Hassan on Thursday from Lady Reading Hospital (LRH) where he was recuperating after getting injured in the blasts himself.

In his confession, Hassan narrated the series of events that led to the attack. The teenager and his accomplice were taken to the intended site of attack on a motorcycle.

Upon realising that there was too much security for them to pass through unnoticed, the boys rerouted to a nearby market to buy tape. With the grenades taped to their legs, Hassan and his partner made their way inside the cinema hall and sat at the back.

Hassan revealed that after some time, they unpinned the grenades and threw them, aiming for the front of the hall. The blasts caused panic, and a stampede ensued during which both accomplices got injured.

Using his right to record a confession, Hassan added that after the blasts, he and his abettor were taken to LRH. His partner was soon discharged. Hassan was charged under sections of murder, attempted murder, damage to property, and creation of civil commotion.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 25^th, 2014.