Bomber targeting forces kills 2 persons in Pakistan
IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency
Islamabad, May 1 ,IRNA -- A bomber exploded his explosives-jacket near security forces and killed at least two persons in Pakistan’s insurgency-hit Swat valley on Saturday, an army spokesman said.
Col. Akhtar Abbas, in charge of army-run media center, said the bomber detonated his bomb as the security personnel were searching for the bomber in a busy market place in Mingora, main city in Swat.
He said the security forces were conducting operation after a tip was received that bombers had entered Mingora, the main city in Swat valley.
Medical Superintendent at the District Headquarters Hospital, Dr Lal Noor confirmed that two persons were killed. He said three among the inured are in critical condition.
The attack at Suhrab Khan market happened shortly after the police arrested a would-be suicide bomber with explosive jacket stripped to his body in Mingora.
“The bomber wanted to avoid arrest and exploded jacket stripped to his body,” Abbas said, adding that the bombers are not locals but are coming from other areas. The spokesman said several security men were among the injured.
Witnesses said that some 14 shops were destroyed. The shopkeepers shut markets in the whole city as troops and police rushed to the blast site.
TV footage showed thick smoke in the sky and the people running to safe places.
No group claimed responsibility for the attack but spokesman for the ruling party in Khyber Pukhttonkhwa, Senator Zahid Khan said the attack was reaction to the military operation in tribal region.
Khan said that al-Qaeda and militants are still operating in the tribal region and the government will continue operation against them until they are eliminated.
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End News / IRNA / News Code 1088861
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