| More detail on yesterday's story... |
RAWALPINDI: At least 25 people were killed and 66 injured on Tuesday in two suicide bomb blasts in Rawalpindi cantonment’s high security areas during morning rush hour, officials said. “The initial investigation suggests that these were suicide attacks,” military spokesman Major General Waheed Arshad told Daily Times. The first blast took place at 7:15am near Qasim Market where a Defence Ministry bus carrying around 38 civilians and uniformed officials was hit, killing 18 people. Five minutes later, a second blast took place near RA Bazaar, behind General Headquarters. The police said the blast was caused by explosives fixed to a motorcycle, which blew up killing seven people on the spot.
Interior Ministry spokesman Brig (r) Javed Iqbal Cheema said the blasts were suicide attacks probably carried out by the same terrorist network responsible for two attacks in Islamabad in July. He also suggested the blasts were an extension of events in the tribal areas. The injured from the attacks, many of them in critical condition, were rushed to hospitals in Rawalpindi, where an emergency was declared.
| “It was an Atomic Energy Commission bus,” said City Police Officer Syed Morravet Ali Shah. However, another police source told AFP that the bus was carrying employees of Inter-Services Intelligence. |
Shah said an explosive device had been planted close to the bus driverÂ’s seat, which tore apart the front portion of the vehicle. Three children in a nearby school van were also injured.
Azaz Syed adds: Investigators were probing whether the bombers belonged to one of three groups that reportedly sent militants for attacks in the twin cities, sources in the Interior Ministry and security agencies told Daily Times. The three groups are headed by Baitullah Mehsud, Qari Zafar and Qari Hussain, all based in the tribal areas.
Agencies add: Security throughout Punjab was put on high alert following the explosions. Security at government buildings, courts, public places, shopping centres, Islamabad airport and at routes leading to Islamabad was stepped up.