TTP claims responsibility for suicide attack in Peshawar

Shahidullah Shahid says the attack, that killed four people, was in response to Operation Zarb-e-Azb


Afp/web Desk/riaz Ahmed September 23, 2014

PESHAWAR: The Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) have claimed responsibility for the attack that killed four people earlier during the day, vowing revenge against Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) for the ongoing military operation in the northwest.

Speaking to AFP by telephone, the group's spokesperson Shahidullah Shahid said: "We claim responsibility for the Peshawar attack on Tuesday. We have no loss from operation Zarb-e-Azb," referring to the military strikes.

"We are still as active as the past and will show the mirror to the PML-N as we showed the ANP (Awami National Party)."

Earlier on Tuesday morning, at least four people were killed and 18 others sustained injuries in a bomb attack on Frontier Corps (FC) convoy near Peshawar Press Club.

An ISPR official confirmed the death toll and said the injured were shifted to the Lady Reading Hospital (LRH) and Combined Military Hospital (CMH), two of whom are reportedly in critical condition.

Security forces cordoned off the entire area soon after the attack and barred people from entering the police line. They also fired excessively in the air for reasons not known, causing panic in the area.

ISPR said that initial investigation into the attack suggest that it was a suicide blast targeting the convoy of DIG FC Brigadier Khalid Javed - second-most senior officer in the FC force.

“He was injured but his condition is completely stable,” the official said. He added that one FC official, who was accompanying Brigadier Javed, and three civilians were killed in the attack.

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif condemned the attack which took place near on Sher Shah Suri Road in the city.


Police officials stand beside a mangled rickshaw at the site of a suicide bomb attack in Peshawar on September 23, 2014. PHOTO: AFP


CCPO Peshawar Ejaz Ahmed, while speaking to Express News, said the suicide bomber was in a Suzuki Alto car and detonated explosives as soon as he got close to the FC vehicle.

AIG Shafqat Malik told The Express Tribune that 45kg explosive were used in the explosion while the CCPO told the media that shells were also found in the car.

Investigators believe the car was coming from Kohat Road.


A forensics official collects evidence at the site of a suicide bomb attack in Peshawar on September 23, 2014. PHOTO: AFP


IG Malik, while speaking to the media, said police have found the chassis and engine numbers of the car and are close to reaching the owner of the vehicle.

He said the police are yet to confirm if the car was stolen or not.

Senior police official Najibur Rehman said the attack appeared to be in reaction to the ongoing military operation in North Waziristan.

In 2010, Frontier Constabulary (FC) Commandant Sifwat Ghayyur and three other people were killed and 11 injured in a brazen suicide attack in the very area.

COMMENTS (31)

M Junaid Khan | 9 years ago | Reply

Even though the article clearly states that the only reason for this attack is the pathetic skills of PML-N to handle different issues and KPK is paying the price for their deeds, yet I see so many of our commenters pointing fingers at PTI.

I wonder if they have lost sense of reading? IDP's are the result of federation policies and are principle responsibility of Federation. Floods are the principle responsibility of both federal and two provincial governments i.e. Punjab and Sindh and yet even PTI is blamed for it. I am sure if the same had happened in KPK, the blame would have been squarely on the PTI for floods but now that it has happened in Punjab and Sindh....still PTI is blamed for it.

Do argue but with logic and not what your leaders or media stuff into your brain. What is Nawaz Sharif doing in New York if the same logic is applied that CM KPK is busy in Islamabad even though he comes later in the evening and returns back at night after spending all the day at work. Moreover, unlike Punjab, security is trusted to a very competent IG and CM don't tell him where to deploy his forces and how to do his job.

csmann | 9 years ago | Reply

TTP is a dying monster trying desperately by these acts to show it is alive.

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