7 martyred, 20 injured in Charsadda terrorist attack

CHARSADDA: According to DPO Charsadda Sohail Khalid, seven people were martyred and 20 were injured were as militants attacked a sessions court in the city on Tuesday.

20 people were said to be injured and seven had been killed in the attack. DPO Sohail Khalid also confirmed that the three suicide bombers had tried to enter inside Tehsil Kacheri but were killed before they could do more damage inside the local court. Reportedly, three blasts had taken place outside the local court in Charsadda.

"One suicide bomber blew himself at the gate of the local court," said DPO Charsadda. "The other two terrorists have been killed by the police."

The area where the attack had taken place was a sensitive one as the office of the District Nazim is located nearby and the houses of a few police officials are also located in the vicinity. Among the 20 injured persons, four were said to be police officers.

10 of the injured and three dead bodies were shifted to Tangi hospital. Security forces had taken control of the area and had cordoned it off. A heavy contingent of police and security forces had arrived to secure the area. Ambulances and a bomb disposal unit were also on the scene to deal with the sensitive situation. According to hospital sources, the injured persons were said to be out of danger.

According to details, gunfire was heard after a bomb blast took place near the gate of a sessions court in Charsadda located at Tangi Bazaar.

Police surrounded the area and began conducting an operation against militants. Hospitals in Peshawar and Charsadda have been alerted regarding the situation. Doctors and staff at the Lady Reading Hospital in Peshawar have also been alerted regarding the situation. 

Speaking exclusively to Geo News, PTI member Shaukat Yousufzai said that as per the information that he had received, the militants had come from Mohmand Agency. He claimed that lives had been lost in the terrorist attack.

"Security institutions are alert in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa," said Shaukat Yousufzai.

The latest attack in Charsadda comes in the wake of a spike in terrorist incidents across the country, with attacks taking place in Lahore, Peshawar and Sehwan Sharif, killing more than 100 people and injuring scores of others.

Security forces launched an offensive against militants throughout the country, killing 100 terrorists.

Facilitators will be arrested soon: DIG Mardan

Speaking to media personnel, DIG Mardan stated that the terrorists who had attempted to carry out the attack had been gunned down by police. He paid tribute to their courage and determination in fighting the militants and thwarting their attempts to enter the local court.

"The facilitators of these terrorists will be arrested and brought to the courts," he said. "We will try our level best to catch them and will succeed, God willing."

He stated that proper checking was being conducted outside the court where the blast had taken place. He stated that people outside the court in the bazaar had been killed and injured when the suicide bomber had blown himself up.