- TTP claims responsibility
At least 19 people were killed and another 22 were injured as a result of a suicide attack on the compound of pro-government militant commander in Buland Khel, a semi tribal region connecting Orakzai Agency with Hangu, on Thursday.
The militant commander, Mullah Mohammand Nabi Hanfi, was said to be injured in the attack, teh second against him in a period of around 14 months. He survived a similar suicide attack last year.
According to an official, the attackers broke into Hanfi’s headquarters and opened fire after which a suicide bomber rammed an explosives-laden vehicle into the building. The explosion was so severe that the compound was completely destroyed.
The official said around one dozen people had lost their lives on the spot while the others had succumbed to their injuries later.
Soon after the suicide attack, tribesmen from the surrounding villages rushed to the site and took the injured to hospitals in Thall and Hangu.
TTP claims responsibility:
Soon after the suicide attack, TTP spokesman Shahidullah Shahid claimed responsibility, saying it was carried out because Hanfi was fighting against the TTP.
When contacted, the Orakzai political administration and the Hangu district administration seemed reluctant give authenticated information regarding the attack.
A police officer in Thall said, “The suicide attack occurred inside Orakzai Agency.”
However, the tribesmen confirmed that Buland Khel was a semi-tribal region, connecting Hangu and Orakzai.
Hanfi was earlier associated with the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan but later set up his own group and is counted amongst the pro-government and anti-Taliban militants.
