Abortive suicide attack leaves two dead

Alizai, dominated by people from the Shia community and remains a hotbed of sectarian unrest

PARACHINAR: Law enforcers claim to have thwarted a suicide attack targeting a football match in Kurram Agency, the hotbed of sectarian violence, Wednesday evening. Two persons were killed and as many injured when two bombers tried to force their way into the playground on the premises of a state-run school in the Alizai area of Lower Kurram before they were shot dead.

Political administration officials and eyewitnesses said the bombers were challenged by the Levies personnel guarding the Government High School Alizai shortly before Maghrib prayers. The bombers opened random fire with their AK-47 assault rifles.

The Levies personnel killed both the bombers in the ensuing gun battle before they could detonate the explosives strapped to their bodies, the officials claimed.

Eyewitnesses said they heard two explosions after the firing ceased. The officials confirmed that two persons – Siraj Hussain and Hamid Hussain – were killed and two others injured by the bombers’ firing.

The officials said the bombers wanted to blow themselves up amidst people on the playground which was packed with spectators at the time. The Levies personnel, however, acted promptly and engaged the bombers in a gunfight. They shot the bombers dead, however, their suicide vests were triggered by gunshots.

The casualties were driven to the Civil Hospital Alizai. Officials said all the victims belonged to the Shia community. After Sadda, Alizai is the second biggest town of Lower Kurram. It is dominated by people from the Shia community. It has been a hotbed of sectarian unrest since long.


Published in The Express Tribune, May 7^th, 2015.