The death toll from the suicide attack carried out near a police station in Swat district of northwestern Pakistan has risen to 17.
A peace rally was held last Sunday by a local tribal organization in Kabal town of Swat district, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. As the rally passed the police station there, police stopped a man who was trying to enter the station and attempted to search him. At that moment, the man detonated explosives strapped to his body, killing 14 people, including 5 police officers, at the scene.
Following the death of three more people who had been admitted to the intensive care unit of the hospital and died on Monday despite treatment, the death toll has risen to 17. Of these, 7 were police personnel and 10 were members of the public. In addition, 12 people, including 8 police officers, are continuing to receive treatment at the hospital.
No terrorist organization has so far claimed responsibility for the attack. However, police officials said they suspect that a member of the ‘Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan’ terrorist organization, which has been banned by the Pakistani government, may have been involved in this suicide attack.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi, who visited the scene in person on Monday and inspected it, met the families of those who were killed and offered his condolences. He also ordered officials to take strong action against the terrorists and restore peace in the region.
