Bride among 13 killed in Matta blast

Published February 23, 2008

SWAT, Feb 22: A bride and 12 other people were killed when one of the vehicles being used by a wedding party was hit by a roadside bomb near Sarbanda in Matta tehsil here on Friday. Twelve other people suffered injuries.

This is the first terror-related incident since the crucial parliamentary elections were held on Monday.

The bride’s father was among the dead, a police official said. He said that the bomb had been detonated by remote control and two cars had been destroyed.

The motorcade had originated from the Ronail village.

According to the in-charge of the army’s media centre, Maj Aurangzeb, two explosive devices had been triggered, one after another.

Local people said the vehicle carrying the bride had been attacked twice by militants because it looked like an army vehicle.

Most of the dead were women and children. Another five children were injured.

Security forces cordoned off the area and found another improvised device near the Wanay village. It was detonated.

The road is frequently used by security forces and an army unit is stationed in the Sarbanda area.

Interior ministry spokesman Brig (retd) Javed Cheema confirmed the incident, according to AFP.

Opinion

Editorial

IMF’s unease
Updated 24 May, 2024

IMF’s unease

It is clear that the next phase of economic stabilisation will be very tough for most of the population.
Belated recognition
24 May, 2024

Belated recognition

WITH Wednesday’s announcement by three European states that they intend to recognise Palestine as a state later...
App for GBV survivors
24 May, 2024

App for GBV survivors

GENDER-based violence is caught between two worlds: one sees it as a crime, the other as ‘convention’. The ...
Energy inflation
Updated 23 May, 2024

Energy inflation

The widening gap between the haves and have-nots is already tearing apart Pakistan’s social fabric.
Culture of violence
23 May, 2024

Culture of violence

WHILE political differences are part of the democratic process, there can be no justification for such disagreements...
Flooding threats
23 May, 2024

Flooding threats

WITH temperatures in GB and KP forecasted to be four to six degrees higher than normal this week, the threat of...