RAWALPINDI: One person was killed and 12 others were injured, including three children, when an explosive device believed to be planted close to an electric pole went off in the busy Kola Centre of Kabari Bazaar, Saddar, at about 8.40pm on Friday night.

Regional Police Officer Sohail Habib Tajik told Dawn that it was not a suicide attack, but a blast in which an IED device containing 2-3kg of explosives was used. The bomb could be a time device or it was detonated by remote control. He said bomb disposal experts reached the site of the blast and collected exploded parts of the device.

“Today’s explosion was like the March 12, 2020 Kabari Bazaar explosion and occurred almost close to that spot and also similar to a cracker attack that happened in Morgah area early this year,” CPO Tajik said.

Two of the 12 injured said to be in critical condition

Rescue 1122 quoted eyewitnesses as saying that the explosive device had been planted close to a parked motorcycle near the busy Kola Centre crossing.

The explosion that had occurred on March 12 in Saddar Bazar left at least seven people injured. A market, where old uniforms of law enforcement agencies are sold, is also located near the site of the explosion.

The explosion caused fear among shopkeepers and buyers who started running in panic; however, shortly afterwards, police, rescue ambulances, bomb disposal squad and Counter Terrorism Department officials reached the scene and cordoned off the area.

The injured were taken to the District Headquarters Hospital, where two of them were stated to be in critical condition.

The man, who lost his life in the explosion, was identified by police as Arfeen Akram, a resident of Allama Iqbal Colony. The body was shifted to the DHQ Hospital for post-mortem.

Police, CTD and intelligence officials collected evidence from the scene, while bomb disposal experts collected exploded pieces of the device. The explosion left a small crater on the site and also damaged motorcycles parked close to the scene.

Among the injured were three children — Abbas Imran, 6; Safiayan Imran, 8; and Waliullah, 7. They were in the market with their father Imran to buy some stationery items.

The other injured were identified as Shamraiz, 30; Nazir Afsar, 30; Shabbir Ali, 35; Khuda Baksh, Hameed, Hur and Ahmed Din.

Published in Dawn, June 13th, 2020