Four people including a police personnel and three civilians were killed and several others sustained injuries when a suicide bomber blew himself here at police check post on Ring Road on Monday morning. According to eye-witnesses, the suicide bombers boarded an auto-rickshaw and when it was stopped on police check post established near Pattang Chowk on Ring Road, he exploded the explosive tied with his body.
Those who have were killed included police constable Wahidullah son of Shah Afzal, resident of Shabqadar, a passer-by Dilawar and rickshaw driver and another pedestrian whose identification could not be ascertained. The injured also included a minor child.
The suicide bomber blew himself up when police signalled him to come out for body search, said Assistant Inspector General (AIG), Bomb Disposal Squad Shafaqat Malik told media. He said that five to six kilograms of explosive was used in the explosion.
Chief Capital City Police Officer (CCPO) Liaquat Khan Ali said the bomber was heading to a more crowded area but decided to detonate his explosives when police stopped the vehicle for checking. He said that police were rendering great sacrifices to save citizens. He said that police thwarted a terrorist act and will continue to give more sacrifices for protection of peoples' lives. The injured were rushed to Lady Reading Hospital (LRH) where emergency had already been declared.
The law enforcement agencies cordoned off the area and search operation was in progress. Peshawar is in the grip of press wave of suicide bombings and it was second incident during last 24 hours. NWFP Chief Minister Ameer Haider Khan Hoti and Information Minister Iftikhar Hussain strongly condemned the attack and termed it cowardly act of terrorism.