NOWSHERA: Seven persons, including two security men, four civilians and the bomber, were killed and 20 others injured when a suicide attacker blew himself up at the gate of the Army Services Corps Centre here on Saturday, military and police sources said.
The bomber riding a bicycle detonated the explosives at a check-post after he was stopped at the gate by the security guards.
Director-General ISPR Major General Waheed Arshad said two security men lost their lives in the incident. Two students, a local jeweller and a driver of the Agriculture Bank, Nowshera, were among the civilian deaths in the attack while the injured included eight security personnel and 12 civilians.
The attacker, who is suspected to have planned the attack against the STB battalion conducting training at the centre, reached the main checking point of the military installation at around 9.25 am, where he was intercepted by a soldier, Majid Nawaz. Before the soldier could get hold of the bomber, he detonated the explosives, blowing himself up.
The injured were rushed to the Combined Military Hospital Nowshera where the condition of at least six was stated to be critical.
The area was immediately cordoned off by the security forces. No one was allowed to move in or outside the area for two hours.
Police citing initial assessment told The News that a 10 kg explosive was used in the attack. The bomber was stated to be between 20-25 years of age.
Superintendent of Police Investigation Aziz Khan said the surveillance camera had captured images of the bomber, which would be helpful in the investigation for which a committee had already been formed.
