RSOE EDIS: Pakistan - Terror Attack - 2009.12.18

RSOE Emergency and Disaster Information Service Budapest, Hungary RSOE EDIS ALERTMAIL

2009-12-18 12:38:44 - Terror Attack - Pakistan EDIS CODE: VW-20091218-24213-PAK Date & Time: 2009-12-18 12:38:44 [UTC] Area: Pakistan, Province of North West Frontier, Lower Dir District, Number of death person(s): 12 Number of Injured person(s): 28 Damage level: Heavy (Level 3) Not confirmed information! Description: A suicide bomb attack killed at least 12 people in northwestern Pakistan on Friday, a senior police officer said. The car bomb exploded at a mosque near the police headquarters in Lower Dir district in North West Frontier Province, District Police Officer, Mumtaz Zarin said. Several policemen were among those killed, who were the main target as most policemen frequented the mosque for Friday prayers, police sources said. Sources said that two senior police were among the injured. Zarin said that 28 other people including policemen were injured. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack. Witnesses said the mosque was badly damaged and the buildings nearby caught fire after the blast. Local TV footage showed that some vehicles parking outside the mosque were also destroyed. Police sources said that the bomber had tried to enter the mosque when the policemen were offering noon prayers. But he couldnot enter the mosque due to security measures. The bomber then exploded his explosive-packed car near the mosque, police said. Offices of several police officers were located near the attack site. The injured were taken to government hospital in Timargarah, the main town in Dir district. Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani strongly condemned the blast, the Prime Minister's office said. He deplored the loss of lives and ordered the authorities for immediate provision of best medical facilities to the injured. He also ordered for the inquiry into the incident, a statement said. The attack was the latest to shake Pakistan's northwest since this year's launch of strong military offensives against Taliban insurgents in the Swat district and South Waziristan tribal agency near the Afghan border. Lower Dir is next to the Swat district, where Pakistani security forces waged a successful operation against the Taliban militants earlier this year. Posted:2009-12-18 12:38:44 [UTC] Please DO NOT reply to this message: replies may be treated as errors and result in your subscription being deleted. If you have trouble or other queries, send email to havaria@rsoe.hu RSOE EDIS is operated by the National Association of Radio-Distress Signalling and Infocommunications (RSOE), Budapest, Hungary. Because of the complexity of this system and its dependence on other systems, we cannot be responsible for delays or failures in forwarding or transmission. You're receiving this AlertMail because you subscribed for the service. To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now. Contact: havaria@rsoe.hu