Islamabad: At least three terrorists were killed and as many Federal Constabulary (FC) personnel martyred as security forces foiled an attack on the FC Headquarters in Peshawar, the officials said on Monday.
Peshawar Capital City Police Officer Dr. Mian Saeed said that three suicide bombers attacked and tried to enter the constabulary headquarters. "One attacker detonated himself at the main gate of the FC Headquarters, while two others managed to enter the premises," he said.
Mian Saeed said one of the bombers blew himself up at the main gate of the headquarters. The other detonated himself at the motorcycle stand, while the third one was successfully neutralized by the FC jawans. A total of three FC personnel also embraced martyrdom in the suicide explosion.
Five persons including two FC personnel were also injured, who have been shifted to the hospital.
The CCPO said FC personnel immediately engaged the suicide attackers and killed two terrorists inside the compound. He confirmed that all three suicide bombers were killed during the exchange of fire with the security personnel.
Dr. Mian Saeed added that the timely response by FC personnel helped prevent the attackers from causing a major incident.
Deputy Commandant of the Federal Constabulary Javed Iqbal also confirmed the killing of all three attackers. He said three FC personnel were martyred in the suicide attack.
Meanwhile, according to the preliminary police report, a suicide bomber approached the main gate of the FC Headquarters, covering himself under a chaddor. He detonated explosives at the checkpoint, martyring three personnel on the spot.
Immediately following the blast, two more attackers entered the headquarters compound from a side gate. Both were armed with rifles and hand grenades. They advanced towards the motorcycle stand on the right side of the compound, intending to take hostages.
Security personnel engaged the attackers in a firefight, killing both within 30 to 40 metres of the main gate. The report said that a parade was ongoing at the time of the attack.
Moreover, 10 people, including three FC personnel, were injured as a result of the attack. Nine injured were brought to Lady Reading Hospital (LRH), according to the hospital administration.
A spokesperson for LRH said that the injured include three personnel of the Federal Constabulary (FC) and six civilians. All injured are stated to be out of danger, the administration added.
Meanwhile President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Mian Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif have strongly condemned the attack by terrorists on the FC headquarters in Peshawar.
In their separate messages, they expressed heartfelt condolences to the families of the martyrs and prayed for the speedy recovery of the injured.
They also paid tribute to the timely and courageous action of the security forces and police due to which major losses were averted.
The President said that the attack is a cowardly act of foreign terrorists operating with external support against the beloved homeland. He said that complete eradication of terrorism by foreign-backed Khawarij is the top priority.
The Prime Minister, in his message, said those responsible for the incident should be identified as soon as possible and brought to justice. He said we will destroy the evil intentions of terrorists who attack the integrity of Pakistan.
PM Shehbaz Sharif also directed to provide immediate medical assistance to the injured.
Meanwhile Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Muhammad Sohail Khan Afridi also paid tribute to both the martyrs and the security forces, emphasising that such cowardly attacks cannot weaken our morale. Later, he attended the funeral prayers of the martyred personnel.