Cop martyred in suicide blast targeting police mobile in Lakki Marwat

PESHAWAR:  One cop was martyred while five others were injured on Monday in a suicide blast targeting a police mobile in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Lakki Marwat district.

Lakki Marwat District Police Officer’s spokesman Asif Hassan the media that a Tajori police mobile was targeted in a suicide attack.

He identified the deceased as Head Constable Alauddin. He further said that the bomber’s accomplice had escaped, adding that a search operation was underway.

The injured were identified as Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) Haq Nawaz, Constable Yar Muhammad, Elite Force Constable Kamal Ahmad, Elite Force Constable Naeemullah and Duty Foot Constable Nasrullah.

Later, a press release issued by Lakki Marwat police shared further details of the incident. It quoted District Police Officer (DPO) Nazir Khan as saying that police had received information about the movement of a “suspicious” motorcyclist by “credible sources”.

According to the DPO, the motorcyclist was travelling from Bittani subdivision toward the Bakhmal Ahmadzai area. The motorcyclists’ “potential target was a public gathering”, the DPO was further quoted as saying.

The press release said police of the relevant jurisdiction were then alerted about the development.

It added that Tajori police has set up checkpoints at Katta Khel, where they flagged down two suspicious motorcyclists. The motorcyclists, however, tried and were chased by police, the press release detailed.

“During the chase, one of the motorcyclists opened fire on police and upon retaliatory action, he blew himself up,” the press release said. Later, it added, DPO Khan reached the site, and a search operation was under way there. “The site has been cordoned off and investigators are collecting evidence.” Monitoring Desk