Bomber now target lawyers, kills 17

PESHAWAR: At least 17 persons were killed and 26 other received serious injuries when a suicide bomber blew himself up at main gate of judicial complex at Khyber Road here on Thursday.

A large number of lawyers were present in the court when a suicide bomber after being checked by an Assistant Sub Inspector blew him self up, killing 17 people including three Policemen and two lawyers killed. Several vehicles were destroyed in the blast.

There are some important offices of the secret agency, Governor house and Chief Minister House in the area. Judicial complex is also close to the five-star Pearl Continental Hotel, where at least nine people were killed in June when attackers shot their way through a security check post and blew up an explosives-laden truck.

Khyber Road has been closed for traffic after the incident. Police have cordoned off the area. Rescue teams reached the spot and ferried the injured to nearby hospitals.

DMS Lady Reading Hospital has confirmed the killing of 17 persons saying five injured reported in a critical state. According to district coordination officer Sahibzada Anis the suicide bomber resisted and blew him self up when Police deployed at main gate juridical complex asked him for checking.

Five suicide attacks in 11 days have hit the Peshawar city of 2.5 million people. According to the bomb disposal squad round about 8 to 10 kilogram explosive material were used in the suicide attack.

All the educational institutes situated in the area have been closed after the blast. The increasing acts of terrorism have created panic among the masses of Peshawar.

’I was busy at work then suddenly I heard gunfire. I saw a man resisting with Policeman at building and then there was a huge blast. I was thrown to the ground", said an injured in hospital.

President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani have strongly condemned the bomb blast in Peshawar.

The two leaders reiterated their resolve in countering terrorism and not to allow anyone disrupt peace in the country.

In a separate, the President and Prime Minister deplored the loss of innocent lives, directed for provision of best medical facilities to the injured and ordered immediate inquiry into the incident.

Quaid PML-N Mian Mohammad Nawaz, Chief Minister Punjab Mian Shahbaz Sharif, Governor Punjab Suleman Taseer, Governor Nwfp Owais Ghani, Chief Minister Nwfp Amir Haider Khan Hoti, Federal Ministers, State Ministers, Governor Balochistan, Governor Sindh, Chief Minister Sindh, The central President of Awami National Party (ANP) Asfandyar Wali Khan, Provincial President ANP Afrasiyab Khatak, Information Minister NWFP Mian Iftikhar, PML-Q NWFP President Ameer Muqam, chief of PPP (Sherpao) Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpao and other personalities also strongly denounced the blast......LINK