The blast in the city northwest of Islamabad occurred outside the door of a government office called the National Database and Registration Authority or NADRA, which is responsible for issuing national identity cards.
Deputy Inspector General Mardan Division Saeed Wazir told local media the attacker was on a motorbike and exploded his explosives vest when he rammed at the gate. He added that authorities have identified the remains of the bomber and an investigation is underway.
First responders quickly cordoned off the area and moved the wounded to hospitals for treatment. Eyewitnesses reported seeing human remains strewn across the blast site. Some of the injured are in critical condition leading to fears that the death toll may rise.
Jamaat ul Ahrar, which is part of the anti-state alliance of Islamist groups called Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), has claimed responsibility for the bombing.
In a statement sent to VOA, the group’s spokesman said it targeted NADRA’s office because it is part of Pakistan’s anti-terrorism war.
But the spokesman for the mainstream TTP, Mohammad Khorasani, in a separate statement to VOA, said the group had nothing to do with the Mardan bombing because "targeting civilians is not our policy."....http://www.voanews.com/content/suicide-attack-mardan-pakistan/3122649.html
29/12/15
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- At least 23 people were killed as a suicide bomber blew himself up outside the main gate of the NADRA office in Dohsera Chowk in Mardan on Tuesday.....
A splinter group of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, Jamatul Ahrar, has claimed responsibility for the attack. Rescue 1122 officials said at least 21 people have been killed and 28 injured. “A motorcyclist rammed his bike into the main gate of the NADRA office,” DPO Mardan said. Further, DIG Mardan Saeed Wazir, said the bomber was on a motorcycle and tried to enter the complex. “He stopped and blew himself up and fortunately was not able to enter the premises.” According to the bomb disposal squad, 8 kilograms of explosives were used to carry out the attack. The NADRA office is located on the link road that connects Charsadda to Mardan. The blast occurred at a time when scores of people were lining up to have their CNICs mad. More than 27,000 civilians and security forces personnel have died in terror attacks since 2004, according to the South Asia Terrorism Portal.
http://www.ubalert.com/mFec
29/12/15
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Blast at government office in Pakistan kills 21: official...
ReplyDeleteA suicide bomber attacked a government office in Pakistan on Tuesday, killing at least 21 people and wounding more than 70, officials said.
A Pakistani Taliban faction claimed responsibility for the attack on a branch of the National Database and Registration Authority (Nadra), which issues government ID cards, in the northwestern city of Mardan in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.
"A suicide bomber riding an explosives-laden motorcycle hit the Nadra office in Mardan where a large number of people were standing in queues," police officer Naeem Khan told Reuters.
At least 21 people were killed and 78 were wounded, 28 of them critically, said Bilal Ahmad Faizi, spokesman for Rescue 1122 emergency responders...............reuters.com