Many dead and injured in Pakistan bombings

Catherine Hardy

 

 

At least 12 people have been killed and dozens wounded outside a court complex in northwestern Pakistan.

 

Rescuers in the city of Mardan in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province say two bombs exploded.

 

Lawyers, police officers and civilians are among the victims.

Have any groups admitted planting a bomb?

Yes.

 

Jamaat-ur-Ahrar, the faction of the Pakistani Taliban behind the Easter Day attack on a children’s park in Lahore, has claimed responsibility for the double bombing.

 

It also came just hours after at least two people died in a separate attack by the group in the same region.

 

The earlier attack

Militants staged a dawn attack in a Christian neighbourhood in the Khyber tribal region earlier in the day:

• Near the northwestern city of Peshawar
• Four gunmen wearing suicide vests
• A security guard and a civilian died outright
• Two soldiers, a police officer and two security guards were wounded

Who are Jamaat-ur-Ahrar?

 

The Islamist group staged the Easter Day attack on Christians in a park in Lahore that killed 72 people, including at least 29 children.

 

It briefly declared allegiance to ISIL in 2014.

 

However, it recently declared it was no longer affiliated with them.

 

The group has targeted Christians in the past.

 

It has warned of more attacks in the future.

 

What is the security situation in Pakistan?

 

It has improved in recent years.

 

However, Islamist militant groups continue to stage major attacks.

 

More than 70 people, mostly lawyers, were killed last month in a suicide bombing in the southwestern city of Quetta.

 

Both Jamaat-ur-Ahrar and ISIL claimed responsibility.

 

What they are saying

 

“First there was a small blast, followed by a big blast,” – chief rescue officer Haris Habib.

 

“These receding elements are showing frustration by attacking our soft targets. They shall not get space to hide in Pakistan,” – Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif says the attack will not affect the government’s resolve.

 

“We appeal to civilians to remain away from law enforcement installations and these un-Islamic courts. We will target them more,” –
Jamaat-ur-Ahrar Ehsanullah Ehsan warns of further attacks.

 

 

-- © Copyright Euronews 2016-09-03

 

What a dangerous country.   It does not appear as if anyone gets along with anyone there.

hardly a day passes without such incidents. it is only a question of the number of casualties involved.