Militant attack: Three injured in roadside explosion in city

Security officials say IED was most likely targetting an FC convoy

PESHAWAR:

Three people were injured when a roadside bomb went off on Ring Road near Achini in the city on Wednesday. One of the injured was a minor and another a truck driver.

According to an official of the Pishtakhara police station, the blast was caused by an explosive device weighing eight kilogrammes. The bomb had been planted on the road.

“We have reason to believe that the attack was aimed at a security forces convoy which had passed on the road 10 minutes before the blast occurred,” he said.

The official said the convoy was equipped with signal jammers. As a result, it did not go off until 10 minutes after the convoy had passed.

“Three bystanders were injured in the explosion,” he said. “They have been identified as Fazal Manan, Abdul Bacha and Ayaz. All three men were shifted to Hayatabad Medical Complex. They are now in stable condition.” Ayaz was identified as a truck driver.

The incident triggered a wave of panic across the city as the explosion was heard many miles away.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 9^th, 2015.