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March
9, 2011
PESHAWAR,
At least 36 people have been killed and more than 50
injured in a bomb explosion at a funeral
prayer of peace Jirga leader’s wife in Adezai’s area
of Matni near Peshawar on Wednesday.
Meanwhile the Tehreek-e-Taliban
has claimed the responsibility of the suicide
attack.
DCO Peshawar Siraj
Ahmed confirmed that it was a suicide attack, adding
that death toll could increase due to serious
injuries. DCO said that the Panic and fear prevailed
in the area after the explosion. Siraj Ahmed told
the media that police cordoned off the area and
started a search operation after the attack.
According to the
police, the suicide bomber targeted a funeral
procession of a wife of Hakeem Khan, a chief of
Local Peace Committee, in Adezai area of Matani,
Peshawar. A suicide bomber is responsible for the
attack as he came to the gathering and blew himself
police added.
The police official
said that about 150 people were attending the
funeral. Soon after the explosion, rescue effort
began and the security forces surrounded the area.
The injured were shifted to the Lady Reading
Hospital where some were reported to be in critical
condition. An emergency declared in all the Peshawar
hospitals.
Talking to media
Provincial minister for information Mian Iftekhar
Hussain said that the suicide entered in the
gathering of the participants of funeral prayer and
blew himself up with explosion. He said that
“Thirty-seven people were killed in the blast.
Iftikhar Hussain said
that ANP government is trying to fight terrorists
with minimum resources. “It is an international
phenomenon. These terrorists want to build their
state here. Local people have joined these foreign
terrorists now.
Meanwhile the Bomb
Disposal Unit said that eight to nine kilogram
explosives was used in the blast
A Police officer Zahid
Khan said around 300 people were attending the
funeral in the Matani area when the bomber struck.
Police have cordoned off the area immediately after
the blast.
Senator Zahid Khan,
Awami National Party (ANP) leader, while talking to
a private TV channel condemned the suicide blast in
Adezai. “he said that these terrorists want to
destroy our economy, adding that they are working on
a foreign agenda.
He said that our
houses, mosques, shops and markets and graveyards
are not even safe. We have asked all political
parties to come forward to curb this menace. We are
committed to kick them out, he added.
A survivor Mohammad
said that the People had gathered and had just
started praying when a boy walked in and blew
himself up.
When we heard the
blast, we knew something terrible had happened, said
Anwar Khan, the owner of a transportation company
who also said he had helped ferry up to 60 people to
hospital. We rushed to the place and it was like
doomsday. There were dead and injured lying all
around he added
President Asif Ali
Zardari and Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani
strongly condemned the suicidal attack in Adezai
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