By NNN-APP
Rawalpindi : At least five persons were killed and 20 injured when a suicide bomber riding a motorbike rammed into a security forces’ bus near the National Logistic Cell (NLC) gate here Monday, police said.
The attack occurred in the jurisdiction of R A Bazar police Station early in the morning. Station House Officer (SHO) of the police station Basharat Abbasi told APP that five people died in the blast and 20 were injured, including three stated to be in critical condition.
Residents said the high intensity explosion shook the area, shattering window panes of nearby buildings and causing panic.
The attacker struck at around 7:19 a.m during the rush hour, wrecking the security forces bus. A coach of the Rawalpindi Medical College, which was behind the bus, and three other vehicles were also damaged, police said.
The security forces immediately cordoned off the area, the road where the blast took place was closed and the charred bus was covered with tents.
The injured were shifted to the Combined Military Hospital (CMH).
It was the second blast of the same nature in the area in the last five months. The first suicide attack there had occurred on Sept 4 last year.
“I heard a loud bang and immediately rushed to the site. The doors and windows of the totally damaged bus were blown away,” said witness Nadeem.
Another witness, Haji Shaukat, said he was opening his trye shop in the area when he heard a huge explosion. “I saw a big ball of fire and smoke. Some bomb pellets also hit the walls of my shop,” he said.
The in-charge of R. A. Bazar police station said an FIR had been registered against unknown attackers and law enforcing agencies had started a probe, collecting evidence from the site including skull of the suspected suicide attacker, the remains of the motorbike and bomb splinters.
Acting Chairman Senate, Jan Muhammad Khan Jamali has strongly condemned the suicide attack, describing the blast as dastardly act, which was designed to demoralize the people and to create instability and chaos in the country.
He urged the people to remain steadfast and united in the face of acts of violence and terrorism in order to foil the designs of the enemies of the country and the people.
He said no religion or creed allowed such despicable acts and those carrying out these acts are committing crimes against humanity.
The Acting Chairman prayed for eternal salvation of those who lost their lives in the blast and offered his heartfelt condolence to the members of the bereaved families.
The Leader of the House in the Senate, Wasim Sajjad, while condemning the suicidal blasts, has also offered condolence to the affected families and prayed that may Allah Almighty rest the departed souls in eternal peace and grant their members fortitude to bear this loss with equanimity.
Speaker National Assembly Chaudhry Amir Hussain has strongly condemned the bomb blast. “It was a barbaric act of terrorism, which reflected inhuman and callous nature of the perpetrators,” the speaker said in a message on Monday.
He said a few misguided people were trying to disrupt peace in the country and derail the peaceful democratic process but they will not succeed in their nefarious design.
Praying for the deceased, Chaudhry Amir Hussain said may Almighty Allah rest departed souls in eternal peace and grant courage to the bereaved families to bear the irreparable loss.
He also sympathized with the injured and their families and prayed for their speedy recovery.