SWABI/DERA ISMAIL KHAN, Oct 15: The bomb disposal squad defused an explosive device planted outside a mosque in Tarakai area, police said here on Saturday.

Police said MNA Usman Tarakai, MPA Javed Tarakai and former district nazim Shahram Tarakai were the apparent target of the sabotage attempt.

They quoted locals as telling them that two people riding a motorcycle showed up at the mosque adjacent to the house of the Tarakais after sunset on Friday, placed a crate and left.

The worshippers called in police after developing suspicion about the crate. Police rushed to the place and found a bomb inside the crate. The bomb disposal squad was called in, which defused it. Police said the bomb weighing around five kilogrammes was to target MNA Usman Tarakai, MPA Javed Tarakai and former district nazim Shahram Tarakai, who offered Maghrib prayers at the mosque.

Imran Tarakai, spokesmen for the Tarakai family, said he saw the crate but ignored it thinking it might be carrying fruit. Police said search for those who placed the crate was underway.

Another bomb planted at the entrance to Quaid-i-Azam Public School, Swabi Branch (Boys Section) went off early on Saturday.

The blast partially damaged the building and injured the watchman, Juma Dad Khan. It was the first time that a private educational institution was targeted in the area by terrorists.

Meanwhile in Dera Ismail Khan, unknown miscreants attacked the residence of deputy superintendent of the district jail with hand grenade late on Friday night. Police said some miscreants hurled a hand grenade at the residence of Bin Yameen Khan Mian Khel. An official of the bomb disposal squad said the grenade was Russian-made which exploded at the main gate of the residence. However, all the inmates remained unhurt.

In another development, a 20kg homemade bomb was defused.