ISLAMABAD: Suicide jackets, hand grenades and weapons were recovered in the capital on Saturday, police said.

The two suicide jackets, five hand grenades, ball-bearing plates, two pistols, four magazines, over 100 rounds, four fuses and as many detonators were found stuffed in separate sacks and dumped in a wooded area in G-14. Some passersby spotted one of the sacks and on suspicion informed the police.

The police and officials of the Bomb Disposal Squad reached the spot and carried out a search of the area which led to the recovery of more sacks.

The police cordoned off the area and got the suicide jackets defused. Later, all the items were shifted to the Golra police station.

A combing operation was also launched in the rural area to trace those who had abandoned the explosive materials there.

When contacted, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Najeebur Rehman Bugvi said the jackets carried 6 to 8kg explosives. These are high explosives and contain phosphorus, he added.

The same type of explosive was used in the attack on Marriott Hotel Islamabad in 2009, Mr Bugvi added.

He said for the last a couple of days the security of the capital had been put on a high alert. Besides, extra vigilance was mounted in the city and search operations were underway.

“It seems those who possessed the jackets and other stuff dumped them in the wooded area in fear of being arrested,” he added.

Published in Dawn, April 15th, 2018