Blast in Mingora
MINGORA: An explosion ripped through a busy market area in Mingora, the main town of Swat Valley, killing at least ten people and wounding many others.
The blast occurred near Mingora Police Station at Nishat Chowk area of the city. Intense firing was also witnessed outside the police station. Officials said a suspected suicide bomber attack on a security forces convoy in the market area. Items found at the scene of the attack suggested it may have been a suicide bombing, though an investigation would be needed to confirm it, Swat police Chief Idrees Khan said at least four people were rushed to hospital in critical condition. A witness Rahim Gul said the blast occurred as two vehicles carrying Pakistani security forces passed through the busy Nishat intersection, which is surrounded by small shops and stalls.
But the security forces’ vehicles appeared to be undamaged, Gul said. Television footage of the scene showed several cars gutted by fire or with blown-out windows. Heavily armed security forces were guarding the area. An unannounced curfew has been imposed in the city following the gory incident. Pakistan Army launched a major operation against militants across the Malakand Division in April last year and claimed to have cleared the fighters out after months of clashes but violence including bomb attacks has continued periodically. After Swat, the army moved into the Taliban’s stronghold South Waziristan on the Afghan border in October.
Source: ARY NEWS
