October 9, 2009
A bus was destroyed in the blast as well as several cars and motorbikes
Forty-two people were killed and more than 100 injured today in a suspected suicide bomb attack on a bus in Peshawar, northwest Pakistan. It was the bloodiest attack in the country since the death of Baitullah Mehsud, the leader of the Pakistani Taleban, in August.
The attack followed Taleban threats to avenge the killing of Mr Mehsud, who died in a US drone strike, and warnings to the Pakistani Army to call off an imminent offensive in the tribal region of South Waziristan — the main militant stronghold.
Liaqat Ali Khan, the Peshawar police chief, said that the blast in the Khyber Bazaar commercial neighbourhood was caused by a suicide bomber driving a car packed with a huge quantity of explosives and artillery rounds.
Television pictures showed the charred wreckage of a bus lying on its side in the road, surrounded by several cars and motorbikes which were also destroyed. One of the cars was still in flames.
The attack followed Taleban threats to avenge the killing of Mr Mehsud, who died in a US drone strike, and warnings to the Pakistani Army to call off an imminent offensive in the tribal region of South Waziristan — the main militant stronghold.
Liaqat Ali Khan, the Peshawar police chief, said that the blast in the Khyber Bazaar commercial neighbourhood was caused by a suicide bomber driving a car packed with a huge quantity of explosives and artillery rounds.
Television pictures showed the charred wreckage of a bus lying on its side in the road, surrounded by several cars and motorbikes which were also destroyed. One of the cars was still in flames.
Noor Alam, one of those being treated for injuries at a local hospital, saw the vehicle explode.
“I saw a blood-soaked leg landing close to me,” he said. “I understood for the first time in my life what a doomsday would look like.”
Another witness told the Duniya television channel: “The bus was making a turn when the blast occurred and it threw the bus into the air.”
There was no immediate claim of responsibility, but suspicion inevitably fell on the Taleban, which appears to be demonstrating its ability to strike major cities at will despite the death of Mr Mehsud, who masterminded dozens of suicide attacks over the past few years.
The bombing came just four days after a suicide bomber disguised as a paramilitary officer blew himself up in the offices of the World Food Programme in Islamabad, the capital, killing fivemembers of staff.
The Taleban has claimed responsibility for that attack.
Today’s attack followed another explosion in a commercial neighbourhood of Peshawar which killed 11 people two weeks ago.
The Government had warned that the Taleban was likely to carry out more attacks in the run-up to the planned offensive in South Waziristan, which is expected to start within the next two weeks or so.
Rehman Malik, the Interior Minister, told reporters after today’s attack that the Government now had “no option” but to launch an offensive against the militants.
“I think the incident of today has accelerated this,” he said.
“We think we have no other option except to carry out an operation in South Waziristan because every matter, every incident, whatever is happening, all roads are leading to South Waziristan so I think we’ll have to proceed.”
He declined to say when an offensive would be launched.
The assault was first announced in June, since when the military has been blockading the area, pounding it with air strikes, and negotiating with tribal leaders in a bid to weaken and isolate the militants.
“I saw a blood-soaked leg landing close to me,” he said. “I understood for the first time in my life what a doomsday would look like.”
Another witness told the Duniya television channel: “The bus was making a turn when the blast occurred and it threw the bus into the air.”
There was no immediate claim of responsibility, but suspicion inevitably fell on the Taleban, which appears to be demonstrating its ability to strike major cities at will despite the death of Mr Mehsud, who masterminded dozens of suicide attacks over the past few years.
The bombing came just four days after a suicide bomber disguised as a paramilitary officer blew himself up in the offices of the World Food Programme in Islamabad, the capital, killing fivemembers of staff.
The Taleban has claimed responsibility for that attack.
Today’s attack followed another explosion in a commercial neighbourhood of Peshawar which killed 11 people two weeks ago.
The Government had warned that the Taleban was likely to carry out more attacks in the run-up to the planned offensive in South Waziristan, which is expected to start within the next two weeks or so.
Rehman Malik, the Interior Minister, told reporters after today’s attack that the Government now had “no option” but to launch an offensive against the militants.
“I think the incident of today has accelerated this,” he said.
“We think we have no other option except to carry out an operation in South Waziristan because every matter, every incident, whatever is happening, all roads are leading to South Waziristan so I think we’ll have to proceed.”
He declined to say when an offensive would be launched.
The assault was first announced in June, since when the military has been blockading the area, pounding it with air strikes, and negotiating with tribal leaders in a bid to weaken and isolate the militants.
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