Nowshera (Risalpur) Blast kills 10, injures 15

NOWSHERA: An IED blast at an eatery in Nowshera killed 10 people and injured 15 others.

Police sources said that bomb was planted in a cycle. The explosion took place outside a local hotel situated on Risalpur Chowk.

Following the explosion a fire started which has made rescue efforts difficult. Firdous says that currently fire fighters are combating the blaze while heavy machinery has been called in to help remove the rubble.

Firdous said that officials, after conducting initial investigations, that an improvised explosive device, between eight to ten kilograms was placed outside the hotel on a bicycle. The explosive device had ball bearings in it as well. Though authorities have not ruled out a suicide blast.

DSP Akhtar Ali says the targeted area was a recreational spot and frequented by visitors. The police had cordoned off the area.

According to Firdous, people were having their dinner after iftar.

The hotel, Firdous says is in close proximity to military buildings.

An eye witness, Abid, said that he was in his book shop when the IED exploded. When he rushed out to see what had happened, he saw bodies strewn on the ground. Abid said that at the time of the explosion, mostly government officials, all men, were in the hotel.

The injured have been shifted to the Lady Reading Hospital.

Expres 24/7 correspondent, Umar Farooq said that emergency had been imposed in the Lady Reading hospital and that five of the injured are in critical condition.

Farooq also said that some of the injured were also shifted to the Combined Military Hospital (CMH).

Firdous reported that Nowshera had seen a flurry of militant activity in the past couple of weeks with a school being blown up, a high transmission line blown up and an IED was placed next to a police checkpost.