TAXILA, Aug 22: A man who was arrested on Thursday has confessed to involvement in the suicide attack on Pakistan Ordnance Factories, Wah cantonment, whose death toll rose on Friday to 78 with over 100 others injured.

Sources said 20-year-old Hameedullah, from Khyber Agency, had made the confession before a joint investigation team of civil and military intelligence agencies and the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA).

The suspect was arrested near Aslam Market while trying to escape from the scene. A belt used in suicide attacks was seized from a washroom of a nearby mosque on the basis of information provided by him.

The sources said teams of security personnel had been sent to Swabi, Mardan and the tribal areas. They said the attackers had arrived in the locality about one week before the attack.

Two people had been arrested on charges of “planning the suicide attack”, the sources said.

Deputy Superintendent of Police Rana Shahid told reporters that the elements involved in the attack had been traced and the case would be solved soon.

City police chief Rao Mohammad Iqbal told Dawn that 13 suspects were being interrogated.

An initial investigation report had been sent to Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani, he said.

The Wah cantonment police on Friday registered an FIR against unknown terrorists under the Anti-Terrorism Act on the application of a POF administration officer, Gulzar.

A ‘suicide vest’ found near the site was handed over to police.

Meanwhile, all the 14 defence production units, over 100 educational institutions and business remained shut in mourning.

POF hospital’s media coordinator Dr Masood said six people died of injuries on Friday. He said 109 injured people were being treated in hospital. Two critically injured people had been shifted to the Combined Military Hospital, Rawalpindi. Three injured people were in a hospital in Taxila.

The POF administration has announced a three-day mourning.

Sources said six bodies had yet to be identified and security personnel believed that they might include those of the suicide bombers.

DNA samples had been sent for tests, the sources said.

Thousands of people attended funeral prayers for the victims at the central mosque in Wah cantonment and the bodies were then sent to various parts of the country. Funeral prayers were also offered in Taxila.

The POF, the Punjab government and Prime Minister Gilani announced compensation for families of the dead and the injured people.

A large number of people held a demonstration in Wah to condemn the attack, express solidarity with bereaved families and demand arrest of those involved in the incident.

No match was played at the Jehangir Khan Squash Complex in Wah where an international tournament was being held.