ID :
16668
Fri, 08/22/2008 - 17:29
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Pak blasts toll rises to 78; would-be suicide bomber arrested
Islamabad, Aug 22 (PTI) Six people Friday succumbed to injuries sustained in twin suicide blasts outside an ordnance factory complex near the Pakistani capital, taking the toll to 78, even as an official said three bombers had carried out thedeadly attack.
Interior Minister and senior Pakistan People's Party leader Rehman Malik said three suicide bombers had struck atthe Pakistan Ordnance Factories in Wah cantonment Thursday.
A fourth bomber was arrested before he could blow himself up and important clues were found during theinvestigation, he told reporters outside parliament.
Earlier reports had said only two bombers were involved in the attack. The bombers blew themselves up near two gates of the Pakistan Ordnance Factories, located about 50km from Islamabad.
A total of 72 deaths were registered till late last night. More than 100 people were injured in the attack, thedeadliest suicide bombing witnessed in Pakistan this year.
The Pakistan Ordnance Factories Hospital commandant, Brig Arshad Zia, told reporters Friday that six more peoplehad succumbed to their injuries, taking the toll to 78.
The bombers struck shortly after 2.30 pm, when a shift at the ordnance factories had just ended. Hundreds of civilian workers of the factories were emerging from the gates at thetime of the attack.
Police officials Friday confirmed reports that a would-be suicide bomber had been detained near the ordnance factory complex. Police and security agencies had yesterday found a suicide jacket and explosives in a mosque located nearthe site of one of the blasts.
The Pakistani Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack, with spokesman Maulvi Omar saying it was carried out in retaliation for operations being conducted by security forces against militants in the restive Bajaur tribal regionbordering Afghanistan.
Omar told reporters that the Taliban would carry out more such attacks in cities like Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Lahore, Karachi and Peshawar if the government did not haltoperations against the militants.
The interior ministry has sounded an alert across the country and security has been further tightened at allmilitary installations.
The funeral prayers of the victims of the suicide attack were held today at various places in Wah amidst tight security. The venues for the funerals were searched thoroughly as the Taliban has earlier struck during prayers for thevictims of militant attacks.
Security agencies also continued their search acrossWah cantonment in search of clues linked to the attack.
Interior Minister and senior Pakistan People's Party leader Rehman Malik said three suicide bombers had struck atthe Pakistan Ordnance Factories in Wah cantonment Thursday.
A fourth bomber was arrested before he could blow himself up and important clues were found during theinvestigation, he told reporters outside parliament.
Earlier reports had said only two bombers were involved in the attack. The bombers blew themselves up near two gates of the Pakistan Ordnance Factories, located about 50km from Islamabad.
A total of 72 deaths were registered till late last night. More than 100 people were injured in the attack, thedeadliest suicide bombing witnessed in Pakistan this year.
The Pakistan Ordnance Factories Hospital commandant, Brig Arshad Zia, told reporters Friday that six more peoplehad succumbed to their injuries, taking the toll to 78.
The bombers struck shortly after 2.30 pm, when a shift at the ordnance factories had just ended. Hundreds of civilian workers of the factories were emerging from the gates at thetime of the attack.
Police officials Friday confirmed reports that a would-be suicide bomber had been detained near the ordnance factory complex. Police and security agencies had yesterday found a suicide jacket and explosives in a mosque located nearthe site of one of the blasts.
The Pakistani Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack, with spokesman Maulvi Omar saying it was carried out in retaliation for operations being conducted by security forces against militants in the restive Bajaur tribal regionbordering Afghanistan.
Omar told reporters that the Taliban would carry out more such attacks in cities like Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Lahore, Karachi and Peshawar if the government did not haltoperations against the militants.
The interior ministry has sounded an alert across the country and security has been further tightened at allmilitary installations.
The funeral prayers of the victims of the suicide attack were held today at various places in Wah amidst tight security. The venues for the funerals were searched thoroughly as the Taliban has earlier struck during prayers for thevictims of militant attacks.
Security agencies also continued their search acrossWah cantonment in search of clues linked to the attack.
