Two dead in Attock terror attack on security vehicle

-Gun and bomb attack on bus carrying employees of security agency kills two, injures at least 14

–Two injured in separate Bannu attack on security forces

ATTOCK: At least two people were martyred while several others were injured in a terror bombing on a passenger bus carrying employees of a security agency in Attock on Thursday afternoon.

The deceased include one of the employees and a passerby — a first-year student — police officials said. Initially believed to be caused by suicide attacker, it was declared as a vehicle-borne IED by security sources. The same sources put the toll at one dead and seven injured. They said a rescue operation had been initiated in the area.

According to details, a man riding a motorcycle first opened fire on the bus carrying civilian personnel of the agency, before detonating his explosives, in the Dhok Gama area of the city. Security forces cordoned off the area immediately after the attack and initiated an investigation. Those injured in the bombing have been shifted to the district headquarters hospital where the condition of two is said to be critical, Regional Police Officer (RPO) Fakhar Sultan Raja said.

District Emergency Officer (DEO) Dr Ashfaq told reporters that the attacker had opened fire on the bus as it slowed down at a speed breaker on Basal Road. When the driver of the bus disembarked and attempted to get hold of the attacker, the latter blew himself up, killing himself, the driver and a passerby identified as Habibur Rehman.

In the past, the country lost its brave officials in terrorist attacks targeting Attock. In August 2015, Punjab home minister Colonel (retd) Shuja Khanzada was killed in a suicide attack on his political office in Shadi Khan village, Attock, along with 16 others. Earlier in the same year, five people, including two senior army officers, were killed and as many were injured when a suicide bomber targeted a vehicle belonging to a defence ministry agency in Attock district. The Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) claimed responsibility for the attack.

TWO INJURED IN BANNU ATTACK ON SECURITY FORCES:

In a separate incident, two security personnel sustained severe injuries as suspected terrorists attacked their vehicle in Jani Khel area.

According to the security sources, security personnel were on their routine patrol in the area when some unidentified armed terrorists opened fire at their vehicle. The assailants managed to flee from the scene.

Two personnel sustained severe injuries in the attack, injured were rushed to the Combined Military Hospital (CMH) for the treatment, whereas security forces have cordoned off the area and initiated operation.

During the past few months, terror attacks on security forces have witnessed an increase in not only Balochistan but also the rest of the country.

In February, as many as four security personnel were martyred and six Frontier Corps (FC) personnel were left injured in a suicide attack near Quetta, security sources said. The explosion took place in Nauhisar area on the outskirts of the provincial capital while police and security personnel were conducting a search operation in the vicinity, sources informed. The attack targeted a Frontier Corps and Levies camp.