Nick of time: Police foil terror plot in DI Khan

Explosives, suicide jacket dumped by fleeing suspects

DI KHAN:

The police in DI Khan said they foiled a terror plot ahead of Muharram processions and congregations, a Dera Town police official told The Express Tribune.

Police established a check post on DI Khan-Zhob Road and flagged down two suspicious looking motobike riders.  However, the suspects tried to escape and were chased by the police. They managed to get away but threw a bag into Kithi Kanal as they fled, added the official.

Police examined the bag and confiscated four hand grenades, two light grenades, a suicide jacket, 20 metres of prima cord and 20 fuses for roadside bombs. There were also two automatic grenade launchers and 90 detonators. Dera Town registered a case against unidentified assailants.

Earlier, police received intelligence reports that two suspicious individuals had entered DI Khan on a motorbike and were planning a terrorist attack.

Read: Pishin raid: Large cache of explosives, detonators recovered

On alert

Strict security measures have been in place for the month of Muharram. Entry points to DI Khan City have been blocked with sandbags and police are checking IDs of all those entering the vicinity. Police in civvies are also deployed. Muharram procession routes and locations are also swept by the bomb disposal unit.

DI Khan police have urged the public to cooperate with law-enforcement agencies and report any suspicious activity.

Holidays for police personnel are suspended and even officials of the revenue department were assigned duties. However, some officials reportedly used political influence to obtain medical leaves.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 18^th, 2015.