RAWALPINDI, Feb 8: The man who was prevented from targeting the VIP lounge of Islamabad airport was not hit by bullets but he died of wounds caused by an explosion, an autopsy performed on Thursday revealed.

The doctor, who carried out the postmortem, told Dawn that the attacker suffered multiple injuries to his chest and abdomen, while his limbs were also fractured after a grenade dropped by him went off.

The doctor said the terrorist’s face was recognisable, though the investigators were yet to establish his identity.

Top security agencies had seized the body after the attack and on Thursday brought it to the District Headquarters hospital in Rawalpindi for autopsy.

The preliminary postmortem report said the attacker did not receive any bullet injuries after the Airport Security Force personnel fired at him as he started running to escape body search.

Three ASF officials and a policeman were also injured in the exchange of fire and the explosion.

Three of the injured law enforcers were discharged from hospital after first aid. However, one ASF sub-inspector — Zulifqar Sumbul — was being treated at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims). He has sustained three bullet wounds but is stated to be out of danger.

Tuesday’s incident was the latest in a series of violent attacks across the country over the fortnight and the second in Islamabad after the Marriott suicide bombing on January 26.

Meanwhile, ASF Director-General Brig Fiaz Ahmed Satti has announced cash reward for the security personnel who intercepted the terrorist.

Brig Satti addressed the ASF staff at Islamabad airport on Thursday and announced one step promotion and Rs25,000 reward each for SI Zulfiqar Sumbul and Mohammad Raheem.

He also announced Rs15,000 for SI Mohammad Jamil, Rs10,000 for Mr Abdullah, and Rs100,000 for the chief security officer.

The director-general said it was all due to hard training, professional competence and operational preparedness that a major attack was averted. He assured the ASF personnel that he would take up the issue of their salaries in his meeting with Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz.