ISI Headquarters in Peshawar Rocked by Blast; 16 Killed, 39 Injured
Nearly 16 people were killed and 39 others injured as a suicide car bomb exploded in Pakistan’s main spy agency building in the northwest city of Peshawar, striking at the heart of the institution overseeing much of the country’s anti-terror campaign.
The police co-ordination officer Saebzada Anees confirmed the casualties.
The bomber struck at the headquarters of the ISI, which was completely devastated in explosion in the country’s most high security neighbourhood. Close to the area are home of the chief minster, provincial governor, the army corp commander and the American consulate.
Gun shots were heard as the attacker tried to get closer to his intended target in a government complex. The three storey building was completely destroyed and the authorities fear victims may be trapped in the rubble.
The explosion was reported to be of so high intensity that it was heard nearly 40 kms away from Peshawar in the nearby towns of Charsadda Dera Adam Khel and Nowshera.
Immediately, the area around the ISI headquarters on Khyber road – which leads to the Afghan border – were cordoned off by security officials amid fears of further attacks following reports that more suicide bombers are at large in the city.
According to an eye witness, the attack was preced by gunfire. Ahmed Ali, who suffered head injuries in the blast, was waiting in a car at a traffic signal when the attackers struck.
“First there was firing then a huge blast. Then everywhere there was dust and smoke. I lost consciousness and brought to the hospital,” he said from Lady Reading Hospital.
Hours later at least two people were killed and several injured in a second suicide bombing in Bannu district south of Peshawar. The attack targeted a building on the road south to South Waziristan, where the Pakistan Army is fighting Taliban militants.
