One killed, 25 injured in Rawalpindi suicide attack

One casualty has been confirmed while 25 people were injured in a suicide attack on a staff bus of a government department, report said here Thursday.

The incident occurred in Chohar Chowk area, near Peshawar road, where a motorcycle bomber hit a bus carrying the employees of Kahota Research Laboratories (KRL) towards Mandra area of the metropolis. Blast was as powerful as it also destroyed the nearby vehicles of the targeted bus and injured few passersby as well. Police and rescuers have rushed the scene and were carrying out relief activities. At least 25 injured have been transferred to the local hospitals of the city where emergency has already been declared. Condition of eleven injured was stated to be critical, it was reported.

UPDATE:

At least 6 persons were killed and 29 others injured, when a motorcyclist rammed his bike with a bus of a government department blowing himself up here in Chauhar Chowk on Thursday.
   
The ambulances and emergency response teams reaching at the spot rushed the injured to the District Headquarter Hospital DHQ. Emergency was also declared in all the hospitals of the city.
   
According to the details a bus carrying at least 25 staffers of Heavy Mechanical Complex Taxila, heading from Golra Morr to Mandra was hit by an unknown motorist suicide attacker around 4: pm at Chauhar Chowk on Peshwar road.
      
Eyewitnesses said that a heavy blast was heard and long smokes of fires were seen on the crime scene. They said that blast was so powerful that it was heard 3km far and it destroyed at least five vehicles and a taxi car.
   
Security personals collected different evidences along with the body parts of suicide attacker. Security personals appealed the people through a loud speaker announcement to vacate the crime scene to avert another possible attack of such kind.  
      
The blast site is very well known in the city, where buses are routed from here to Peshawar and blast occurred at a time when the market was overcrowded and people were leaving from offices to their homes.
   
Talking to media, Regional Police Officer (RPO) Rawalpindi, Nasir Khan Durrani confirmed that only one man was killed in the blast; however, 29 others were injured in the blast, of them four to five were in critical condition. He said that he has confirmed the death toll from hospital sources, adding the casualties may have been taken to some other hospitals. Mr. Durrani said that this blats could be the reaction of military operation in Malakand Division.
   
RPO further said that investigation teams recovered body parts and head of suicide attacker from the crime scene that he said would be helpful to reach the perpetrators. He said that previously a suicide attack was accrued at the same place that was traced. 
      
He said that security agencies were succeeded in arresting the organizers and financiers of the previous blast. ``Perpetrators of this attack would also be arrested soon'', said RPO. He said that a joint investigation team would be formed to investigate this terrorist attack.
   
Commenting on the security measure taken by Rawalpindi police, RPO said that security was already tightened. He said it was impossible to check each and every motorcycle and vehicle. He said ``police could only offer random check on specific points and place''. He said that police had received intelligence reports that extremists could attack sensitive installations and building in Rawalpindi but he said those terrorists are changing their styles every time. He said ``terrorist hit an official bus''.
   
RPO, Nasir Durrani said that keeping in view intelligence information about suicide attacks extra ordinary measures were taken to secure sensitive building located in garrison city. He said ``Rawalpindi is known the city of establishment of Pakistan''. He said that security agencies are committed to counter terrorism to save the lives of its citizens.