PESHAWAR: Unknown assailants opened fire at an outlet of a foreign fast-food restaurant on the Ring Road in the jurisdiction of the Sarband police station on the outskirts of the provincial capital on Sunday night, the police said.

They said that the attackers walked away after opening fire at the restaurant.

“There were two persons. They opened fire at the restaurant and then walked away,” SP Cantonment Aitzaz Arif told Dawn. He added that the firing incident was being investigated.

Other police officials, however, said that the restaurant’s other branches also came under mob attack a few months ago during a protest against Israel in Tehkal area of the provincial capital.

“This does not seem to be an organised group since there were only two attackers. We cannot say at this moment whether or not it was a militant attack,” an official said, adding in their assessment, this too seemed to be in protest against Israel.

A statement issued by the city police said that senior police officials visited the spot and collected the evidence. It said that the incident was being investigated from different angles after a case was lodged by the restaurant’s manager.

Published in Dawn, August 13th, 2024