By IRNA,
Islamabad : Pakistani Taliban Thursday claimed responsibility for two deadly suicide bomb attacks on the workers of the country’s major arms factories, which killed over 70 factory workers.
The bombers blew themselves up at two gates of the Pakistan Ordnance Factories (POF) at Wah Cantt, a town some 35 kilometers northwest of capital Islamabad.
The bombers targeted factory workers at the main gate and another gate 200 meters away when they were leaving and entering the factories building, deputy inspector general police Nasir Khan Durrani said.
Doctor Khalid Ishaq at the POF hospital said that some 60 dead bodies were brought to the hospital.
The state-run television reported that 65 people were killed and 76 others were injured in the blasts at 2:35 p.m. PTV said that 26 injured are in critical condition.
Maulvi Umar, spokesman for “Tehrik (movement) Taliban Movement” said that Taliban carried out the suicide attacks as ‘reaction to army operation in the Bajaur tribal region’.
The security forces are using F-16 fighter planes, gunship helicopters and artillery to bomb positions of Taliban in Bajaur tribal region.
Army says that over 200 Taliban militants have been killed in the Bajaur operation launched earlier this month.
The Taliban spokesman warned that militants will carry out more suicide attacks if the forces did not halt operation in Bajaur.
“The armed forces are forcing us carry out more suicide attacks in the country,” Umar told reporters on phone from undisclosed location.
“We have prepared a group of suicide bombers, who are ready for attack,” the Taliban spokesman said.
It is the second major suicide attack in three days.
Up-to 30 people were killed when as suicide bomber blew himself up at hospital in the town of Dera Ismail Khan in the northwest.
Police officer Durrani said that most those died and injured in the twin suicide attacks are civilian employees of the factory.
Witnesses said that the factory workers were leaving the factory in queues to when the bombers hit them at the main gate and another gate 200 meters away.
The Pakistan Ordnance Factories, (POF) is considered the premier defence industry and the lifeline of over half million strong armed forces, which completed its 50 years of existence in December 2001.
The factory is located in highly security zone and is guarded by the army but the bombers managed to reach the gates.
A defence analyst Lt. General (retired) Talat Masood said that around 25 000 are working in the factory, which consist of 18 different factories.