QUETTA: Security forces on Thursday foiled a bid to carry out a suicide attack on a check-post in the Kuch Mor area by shooting dead a would-be bomber before he could blow himself up, said official sources.

According to sources, vehicles were being checked at the entry point of the cantonment area when a militant opened fire on security vehicles parked near the check-post.

The snipers deployed at the pickets near the boundary wall of the cantonment premises returned fire and killed the assailant wearing a suicide jacket. No one else was hurt in the firing, said sources.

“The suicide bomber wanted to enter the check-post where people were present for security check,” a senior official said, adding that security personnel deployed in the area foiled the attempt on time before the assailant could detonate his vest.

A heavy contingent of security forces rushed to the site and condoned off the entire area. A search operation was launched to trace the facilitators of the attempt and a bomb disposal squad defused the suicide jacket the assailant was wearing.

“Around 12kg explosive was packed in the suicide jacket, which was timely defused,” security officials said, adding that pieces of iron, nails and ball bearings were also packed in the vest. The assailant’s body was taken into custody and shifted to civil hospital. Authorities concerned collected evidences from the site.

Published in Dawn, March 23rd, 2018