The scourge of suiciders is hard to put down. When a religion gets abused by the terrorists, the results are horrendous.
May Allah bless the souls of shahid police officers/cadets.
May Allah burn the suicider in hell forever.
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Suicide bomber kills 16 police cadets in Swat
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By Our Correspondent
Monday, 31 Aug, 2009 | 05:13 PM PST |
MINGORA: A terrorist blew himself up inside a police training centre in Mingora on Sunday, killing 16 recruits of the newly-formed Community Police Force and injuring four others.
Officials said that about 50 cadets of the force were getting training at the centre when the bomber sneaked into the parade ground and detonated explosives strapped to his body.
‘The trainees were on a routine drill when the bomber blew himself up,’ an official said.
Sources said the bomber might have scaled the wall of the centre to enter the parade ground. IGP Malik Naveed Khan described the incident as a security lapse.
In a statement issued in Peshawar, the IGP ordered an inquiry and suspension of personnel responsible for negligence.
Witnesses said that 12 trainees died on the spot and several others were injured, who were taken to hospital.
Police said that parts of the bomber’s body had been found and sent to hospital for examination.
This was the second suicide attack in Swat since the military launched an offensive in the valley. Three soldiers were killed when a bomber hit a security post on Aug 15.
A source at the Saidu Sharif hospital said that 17 bodies and eight injured had been brought to the hospital after the suicide blast at the training centre.
The ground was littered with limbs and flesh. Police cordoned off the area. Security forces started firing in the air, triggering panic in the area.
The Community Police Force is being raised to curb militant activities in the violence-plagued valley where the army is conducting an operation to restore the government writ. So far, 110 cadets have been recruited for the force.
Also on Sunday, security forces claimed killing 18 militants in Charbagh area. Brigadier Tahir Hameed, who is commanding the operation, said that troops had captured several wanted men and retrieved a large quantity of looted goods.
During a search operation, troops seized weapons and ammunition and defused a number of explosive devices.
Agencies add: Some of the dead were identified as Drill Instructor Muhammad Alam, trainee policemen Akbar Ali, Muhammad Anwar, Hazrat Yousuf, Yousuf Khan, Muhammad Ali, Muhammad Nawab, Gohar Rehman, Aftab Gul, Inamullah Khan, Ethbar Gul, Liaquat Ali and Hussain Ahmed. Three of the victims remained unidentified.
Malakand DIG Muhammad Idress Khan said at a news conference that it was yet to be determined whether it was a suicide attack or a bomb blast.
He said the real cause of the explosion would be confirmed after a detailed investigation.
He said security measures would be tightened to prevent such attacks in future. He said compensation would be paid under the Shahuda package of NWFP police.
Swat Operation incharge Brig Tahir Hameed said that security forces were on alert to thwart nefarious designs of anti-state elements. He said that curfew hours were being revised in view of the security situation.
He said that operation was continuing in Matalthan and other areas of the district.
He said that several hideouts of militants had been dismantled and several militants arrested.
DAWN.COM | Provinces | Suicide bomber kills 16 police cadets in Swat