By NNN-APP,
Islamabad : A bomb planted in a car Thursday demolished section of residential quarters of the Anti Terrorist Squad (ATS) at Police Lines here, injuring five police personnel.
The explosion that rocked the federal capital at 12:55 occurred in a car parked outside the ATS barracks situated well within the police headquarters.
The blast, despite the damage, did not cause loss of life as the ATS personnel had left for duty at the Parliament, where country’s law makers were discussing terrorism and ways to counter it.
Unprecedented security measures were taken for the in-camera briefing at the National Assembly where the entire area was declared redzone, as military choppers hovered over the air.
The building that houses around 70 personnel was mostly empty at the time of blast with less than ten people. Most were in the rear part of the building and only five, at the front received injuries.
“We believe it was a suicide car bomber,” Inspector General police Syed Asghar Gardezi told reporters.
The blast caused a crater in front of the three-storied building, part of which collapsed and shattered window panes of several buildings inside the huge compound in I-11 sector.
The police cordoned off the area, as rescue services from Islamabad and Rawalpindi rushed to the scene.
Investigators were seen collecting body parts of the suspected car bomber and the vehicle. A number of vehicles parked near the building were also damaged.