News
Saturday, July 10, 2010
65 killed in twin suicide attacks in Mohmand Agency* 5 children, several women among the dead
* Over 100 shops, more than 24 vehicles destroyed
* TTP claims responsibilityPESHAWAR/ISLAMABAD: At least 65 people were killed, including women and children, and 110 injured, as two suicide bombers ripped through political offices, just seconds apart from each other, in Yakka Ghund tehsil of Mohmand Agency on Friday, Mohmand Political Agent Amjad Ali Khan said.
The dead included five khasadars, two political moharrars and five members of a family, while over 100 shops and more than two dozen vehicles were destroyed in the explosions. According to AFP, the force of the explosives collapsed flimsy wooden roofs of more than two dozen shops, twisted shutters and snapped off doors.
The Tehreek-e-Taliban (TTP) Mohmand chapter claimed responsibility for the attacks.
The first bomber, riding a motorbike, hit the main boundary wall of the political offices of the Yakka Ghund tehsil, while the second attacker, driving an explosives-laden coach, hit the main offices, which also included a sub-jail in the premises. Resultantly, the entire building collapsed, killing 65 people and injuring 110 others. Thirty-five prisoners fled from the prison, four of whom were recovered later.
The bomber rammed the vehicle, as hundreds of tribal elders had gathered around the office of Rasool Khan, the Mohmand assistant political agent, for a meeting. None was hurt, according to Amjad Ali Khan.
Women, children: Among the wounded were several people displaced due to the military operation, who were collecting relief goods near the blast site. Residents said five children, aged between five and 10, and several women were among those dead.
The injured were immediately rushed to a nearby hospital and those critically-wounded were shifted to Peshawar’s Lady Reading Hospital.
Rescue workers were sifting through the debris of partially-collapsed buildings and officials feared the death toll could rise further.
Responsibility: Meanwhile, TTP Mohmand spokesman Ikramullah told reporters on telephone from an undisclosed location that their targets were the offices of the political administration and the local peace committee, which had arranged an anti-Taliban jirga there. We have no enmity with the people, he added.
“Our intentions were to stop the holding of the anti-Taliban jirga,” Ikramullah said.
Separately, the US embassy condemned the suicide attacks, saying such brutal acts demonstrate the terrorists’ disregard for human life. President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani and Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi also condemned the blasts and expressed grief over the loss of lives.
The president and PM reiterated their resolve not to bow down to the terrorists and to continue the operation against them. The FM stated that terrorists would never be allowed to succeed in their nefarious designs. agencies
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk