PESHAWAR: An improvised explosive device (IED) planted outside a private college here in Hayatabad went off in the small hours of Thursday, partially damaging its main gate.

Local police said that unknown armed men had planted the explosive material outside the gate of ICMS in Hayatabad Phase-V, which went off with a bang after midnight. The blast caused unrest among the people in the posh locality. It caused damage to the college’s main gate and windowpanes, but no one was injured in the blast.

The explosion was so severe that its sound was heard in far away areas. The police have registered an FIR against unknown armed men in Hayatabad police station under the Anti-Terrorism Act. An official of the local police station said that investigation was underway, but it seemed to be an extortion-related case.

He said that unknown people had been demanding extortion from the owner of the college, but statements in this regard were yet to be recorded. Another official referring to opinion of the bomb disposal unit said that the explosives weighed about two kilogrammes. He said that a search operation had been started in the area and several suspects were rounded up for interrogation in this connection.

Published in Dawn, February 6th, 2015

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