At least six people, including a police officer, were killed and 27 others injured in a suicide attack on a police van at the historical Qissakhwani Bazaar here on Wednesday. According to police officials, the vehicle of SP (Investigations) Hilal Haider was attacked by the suicide bomber outside Khan Raziq police station just after he left his residence at Koacha Risaldar and as he was passing through the market.
"The SP used the same route as a matter of routine. He was attacked as he reached the main gate of Mohalla Jangi," a police official said. Chief of the Bomb Disposal Unit Malik Shafqat said that about 6 to 7 kilogram of explosives was used in the suicide vest, adding that "fine quality" explosives had been used in the blast which also damaged some nearby buildings.
SP City Asif Iqbal said that target was the police officer and most of the wounded were either shopkeepers or passers-by. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Minister for Information Mian Iftikhar Hussain termed the attack inhuman after visiting the injured persons at the Lady Reading Hospital.
Talking to media persons at the hospital, he said that six people had been killed and 38 injured, adding that the actual target was the police officer. He said that terrorists were targeting either police officials, political activists or media persons. The funeral prayers for the three slain policemen were offered at Malik Saad Khan Police Lines. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa's Senior Minister Bashir Ahmed Bilour, Mian Iftikhar Hussain, Inspector-General of Police Mohammad Akbar Khan Hoti and others also participated in the prayers.
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