News
Thursday, September 08, 2011
Peshawar faces imminent terror threatPESHAWAR: The capital of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Peshawar, was put on high alert when security agencies warned of likely terrorist acts targetting key government buildings, offices and crowded public places, officials said on Wednesday. The headquarters of the paramilitary Frontier Constabulary, offices of political agents of Khyber Agency and police stations in cantonment areas were believed to have been under threat from vehicle-borne improvised explosive devices. “We have intelligence that terrorists have loaded two mini-trucks with explosives to target government offices and keeping in view the threat we have taken some precautionary measures,” senior security officials told Daily Times, adding that the high-grade security threat was discovered last Sunday. Authorities evacuated the offices of FC and adjoining shops on Wednesday as the threat-level was hiked, making it seem that an attack was imminent. According to sources, the police seized one of the two mini-trucks on Tuesday, which was believed to have entered Peshawar from the tribal area bordering Khyber Agency. The police recovered rocket launchers and other weapons from the truck, the sources added. Roads in front of Khyber House – official residence-cum-office of PA Khyber Agency - and West Police Station– were blocked for all types of traffic. The officials declined to identify the militant group responsible for planning the attacks. However, suspicions are growing that it may be groups operating in Orakzai Agency after being uprooted from Darra Adamkhel and using the Khyber tribal region as a base to target Peshawar. Traffic police officials were seen redirecting heavy vehicles to alternative routes to avoid using Khyber Road where sensitive military and civilian installations are located. “We have been told the terrorists will use a mini-truck, which they have usually used in such attacks previously. That is why such vehicles are being denied the route which leads to sensitive military and civilian installations,” officials said. staff report
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk