At least 14 people were killed and more than 18 others were injured after a suspected suicide bomber exploded explosives outside a police station in the town of Kabal in Pakistan’s Swat district in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. The attack has drawn global outrage and revived fears of a return to militant bloodshed in the country’s northwest.
A big pro-police, anti-militancy gathering was underway near the Kabal Police Station when the blast occurred, local police authorities say. The attacker was stopped by police personnel for a security check and was not able to approach the gathering but caused severe casualties at the entrance of the station, authorities added.
Five police officers and eight civilians were among the casualties, while the 14th person murdered is likely to have been the suicide bomber, regional police spokesman Fida Hussain said. More than 18 individuals were injured, some badly, and brought to local hospitals for emergency treatment.
The gathering was arranged by local residents and community leaders to oppose the increasing presence of militants in the area and to show support for security personnel fighting extremist groups. The blast rocked the area where hundreds of people had congregated near the police station, scattering panicked participants and summoning emergency responders to the scene.
The blast was not claimed by any group immediately. But security officials believe the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) also known as the Pakistani Taliban that has stepped up operations against police, military personnel and government institutions in recent years. The insurgent group has been trying to reassert its presence in portions of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa despite continued military operations.
Pakistan’s President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif were quick to denounce the incident and called it an act of barbaric terror. They extended condolences to the relatives of the victims, wished rapid recovery to the injured and reiterated the will of the government to root out terrorism from the country. Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi also condemned the attack and hailed the security officials who prevented a worse tragedy by intercepting the bomber before he could reach the main throng.
Security services have initiated an inquiry into the incident and are carrying out efforts to find and apprehend any possible accomplices. Security has been tightened in the Swat Valley and other regions of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa fearing additional assaults.
The bombing is the latest in a slew of devastating militant attacks that have rocked Pakistan’s northwestern area this year, illustrating the country’s continuous struggle against insurgency groups. The latest incident will probably increase pressure on the administration to toughen counter-terrorism measures as public concern grows over security in the dangerous border region.
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