Suicide bomber kills at least 10 in Hangu

posted in dawn


HANGU: A suicide bomber attacked a convoy of civilians guarded by security forces in Pakistan's northwest on Friday, killing at least 10 people and wounding 30, police said.
Suicide bombings have eased in recent weeks but it is not clear whether that is because security has improved after military gains against the Taliban, or if the insurgents are merely regrouping for more attacks.

“Our convoy was hit by a big explosion. It's all chaos here. I myself have seen four dead, two of them are children. I have seen four wounded women,” said witness Javed Hussain, who was in the convoy of vehicles carrying Shia Muslims to the city of Peshawar.

“We have now a confirmed figure of 10 dead, including four women. Thirty wounded have been admitted to hospitals,” Fazal Naeem, the regional police spokesman, said.

Eye witness accounts reveal that a boy blew himself up near the convoy when it reached a petrol pump in the Thall Tehsil of Hangu. Four vehicles were also destroyed in the attack. The security forces have cordoned off the entire area and a curfew has been imposed.