MARDAN (APP): At least 12 people including three policemen and three lawyers were killed and 46 others injured when a suicide bomber blew himself up at the entry gate of District Courts here on Friday.
District Police officer Mardan, Faisal Shahzad talking to mediapersons confirmed that attack was a suicide and terrorist was wearing a jacket with about 6-8 kilograms of explosive material.
DPO said constable Junaid Khan who was martyred in the attack, spotted the bomber at the entry gate and fired at him, as a result of which the militant detonated his explosive vest at the main gate of district courts.
Provincial Information Minister Mushtaq Ghani told media that the attacker first threw a hand grenade and then detonated his suicide jacket at the entry gate of the district and sessions court that caused the casualties.
The deceased identified are Police Constables Azam Khan, Ishtaiq Khan and Junaid Khan, lawyers Yousaf Bacha, Inayat Ali and Said Akbar.Civilians Muhammad Ayaz, Akhtar Munir, Muhammad Ismail, Khalid Khan and Badr Munir are also among dead.
The injured police constables' names are Dilawar, Zafar, Asad Zia, Anwaarullah Khan (ASI) while lawyers Naeem, Aziz, Fawad, Imran, Ajmal, Yaqoob and Muhammad Nawaz are among 46 wounded.
Following the explosion, the police and security forces cordoned off the area and started investigation. The injured were immediately shifted to Mardan Medical Complex and critically injured were shifted to Lady Reading Hospital Peshawar where emergency was enforced.
The Spokesman of Mardan Medical Complex have requested people not to create rush in wards as it was creating hurdle in treatment process of the patients and contact Emergency Department Information Desk for any query.
The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor, Engineer Iqbal Zafar Jhagra strongly denounced terrorists attack on Christians Colony Warsak Road and a suicide blast at Mardan district courts.
In his statement, the Governor expressed grief over loss of precious lives and injuries to the people, He expressed solidarity with the bereaved families and said government equally shares their grief and sorrow at this difficult time.
The Governor said that perpetrators and facilitators involved in these heinous acts would be brought before the court of justice. He said the entire nation stands united against such anti-human elements.
The Governor reiterated that action initiated against the menace of terrorism would continue till elimination of the last terrorist. He also directed the hospital authorities to provide best possible health cover to the injured.