Newsnomics AJAY ANGELINA reporter |
At least three children among seven were injured in an improvised explosive device (IED) blast at Peshawar’s Warsak Road, Pakistan on Tuesday morning December 5, 2023.
Two children aged between 7 to 10 are in critical condition and have been shifted to the Peshawar’s Lady Reading hospital”
The blast caused severe damage to nearby buildings. “The windows of a nearby building and windshields of two Suzuki vans were shattered due to the intensity of the blast” said Bilal Faizi Rescue 1122 spokesperson.
The CCTV footage of the explosion confirmed that the explosion occurred at 9:11 am near a private bank and a school on Warsak Road in Peshawar. The CCTV also shows the explosive material was installed in the middle of the road and the traffic was as per routine at the duration of the blast.
“An estimated four kilograms of explosives material was used to make the explosion, planted in a “cemented block” on the side of the road ”said SP Arshad Khan while talking to the media personals on the blast site.
The area of the blast has been cordoned off and further investigation is under way, said SP Arshad Khan.
“It would be too early to say about the target of the explosion” the official added.
Pakistan’s caretaker Prime minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar strongly condemned the blast explosion and directed law enforcement agencies to complete the investigation process as soon as possible.
The Chief Minister prayed for the speedy recovery of the injured children, also directed medical facilities to do their best for the injured.
Interim Minister Sarfraz Ahmed Bugti strongly condemned the incident, issuing directives for no stone to be left un-turned for the treatment of the injured children.
“Children are the future of this country; will protect them under every circumstance,” he said, adding that terrorists prove their cowardice by targeting Children.”
Interim Minister also vowed to punish the elements involved in the bomb explosion.
In 2014, 149 people including 132 school children were killed in Peshawar school massacre by the terrorist’s attack. While on 16 December 2014, six gunmen affiliated with Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) conducted a terrorist attack on the Army Public School in Peshawar.
As per data released by the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies (PICSS), the country experienced 34 per cent increase in anti-state violence last month, especially in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and Baluchistan, after Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan ended its ceasefire with the government in November last year.
KP emerged as the most affected province, documenting 51 attacks, causing 54 fatalities and 81 injuries.
Meanwhile, Baluchistan recorded 9 attacks, resulting in 18 fatalities, including that of 15 security forces
personnel and three civilians.
