Attack on Christian Colony in Peshawar foiled, 4 terrorists killed

PESHAWAR: A terrorist attack targeting Christian Colony located on Warsak Road in Peshawar was foiled by security forces on Friday.

The ISPR in a statement said the operation against terrorists in Warsak had concluded and all four suicide bombers had been killed.

Four suicide bombers with arms and ammunition entered Christian Colony Warsak after hitting a security guard at 5:50 AM today, ISPR said.

Security forces promptly responded and cordoned off the area. Five people which included two FC soldiers, a police constable and two civil guards were injured in exchange of fire. 

A Levies personnel was martyred and a civilian identified as Samuel Masih was killed. 

The militants were initially engaged by Pakistan Army's Quick Reaction Force (QRF). Reinforcements were immediately sent in to thwart the attack.

Chief of Army Staff General Raheel Sharif appreciated Army, Frontier Corps and police for prompt and effective response and defeating the terrorists' attempt.

Earlier, official sources said five explosions had been heard, amid sporadic gunfire by militants.

Emergency has been declared at Lady Reading Hospital and other hospitals. Residents of the area were asked to stay inside their homes.

Terrorists were armed, Afghan mobile phone SIMs recovered

Police claimed that the suicide bombers were aged between 20 and 24 years. All four of them had beards, they added.

Body parts including the legs and skull of the suicide bombers were recovered from the blast site, police said.

Heavy weapons including four guns, four suicide jackets and four hand grenades were found from them, sources said. The suicide jackets were diffused by the bomb disposal squad. 

Police said that attackers were carrying Afghan mobile phone SIMs.

Each militant carried 8-10 kg of explosives, police sources said.

Terrorists attacked high security zone

There are 25 to 30 houses of the Christian community located in the vicinity.

Senior analyst Rahimullah Yousufzai said the vicinity is a high-security zone with military and paramilitary installments, and a cadet college is also situated there.

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif lauded the quick action from Army, FC and police against the terrorists.

Shortly after the attack in Peshawar was foiled, two bomb blasts hit District Kacheri in Mardan where six people were martyred.

The attack occurred a day after ISPR in a media briefing highlighted the success of Operation Zarb-e-Azb.

Terrorism-hit province Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has witnessed several such attacks before. In January this year armed gunmen held students at the Bacha Khan University hostage. 21 people were killed in the attack.

On December 16, 2014 Taliban entered the Army Public School killing 144 unarmed students and teachers, in one of the deadliest attacks in the country.

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