Islamabad, August 21
At least 55 persons were killed (65, according to PTI) and another 80 wounded, 35 of them seriously, when two suicide bombers blew themselves up outside the gates of a Pakistan ordinance factory in Wah Cantonment. It is the country’s premier state-run arms factory, about 50km from the capital.
The deadly attacks that came close to heels of another huge blast at the emergency ward of the government hospital in Dera Ismail Khan on Tuesday killing 35 persons were the second in three days after military ruler General Pervez Musharraf stepped down after nine years of absolute rule.
The blasts occurred on two separate gates of the factory and eye witnesses said the bombers had walked in to the factory and detonated explosive devices just when workers were emerging out of the factory during a change in shift.
Spokesman of the Tehrike Taliban Islami immediately claimed responsibility and described it as a reprisal act to avenge the ongoing military operation in Bajour Agnecy in the tribal belt bordering Afghanistan that had displaced many and they were forced to seek refuge out of the conflict area.
Most dead and injured were labourers of the factory. Omer urged common people to stay away from places where staffs of security organisations and police were working. He said more blasts would be carried out in various Pakistani cities till the army put an end to its operations.
The attackers blew themselves up almost simultaneously outside the two gates of the sprawling factory complex in Wah Cantonment. It is one of the country's most sensitive and highly guarded installations. The bombers were on foot and they exploded themselves less than a minute apart.
The Pakistani ordnance factories at Wah are a cluster of about 20 industrial units producing artillery, tank, and anti-aircraft ammunition for the Pakistan armed forces. The security has been put on high alert across the country.
Top national leadership, including Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani, PPP co-chairman Asif Zardari and PML-N chief have condemned the blasts.
