Suspected militant: Police arrest bomb ‘expert’

PESHAWAR: A suspected militant believed to be an expert at assembling explosives was arrested by Paharipura police on Friday. According to police officials, Sajid Afridi was signalled to stop for a routine check near Northern Bypass, but instead he opened fire at the police. Following a shoot-out, the police managed to arrest Afridi and recovered two grenades and a pistol from his possession.  “Afridi, a resident of Bara, is a hardened militant. He was trained in Waziristan and is a commander of a militant outfit,” said City SP Faisal Mukhtar, while addressing a news conference at Paharipura police station. Mukhtar added the alleged militant was involved in a bomb attack in Hangu, two extortion-related blasts in Pakha Ghulam and one in Tehkal. “Afridi’s arrest is progress for the police as he is an expert at assembling explosives,” Mukhtar stated.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 24^th, 2014.