Van blast kills 14 in Lower Dir
17 September, 2012
PESHAWAR: A remote-controlled bomb planted by the Taliban and targeting a passenger van killed at least 14 people and wounded 10 others in Lower Dir on Sunday, police said. The blast took place in Jandol town of the district, 100 kilometres from Swat valley. "It was a remote-controlled bomb blast which killed 14 people, including three women, and wounded 10 others," local police official Farman Khan told AFP. The injured were shifted to Timergara District Hospital for treatment. Khan, who was supervising the aftermath at the site, said the vehicle was targeted because it was carrying people known to be pro-government. A spokesman for the Pakistani Taliban said the attack was launched in revenge after villagers formed a pro-government militia. He said such attacks would continue. "We have informed them of the repercussions of supporting the government but they didn't stop backing the armed forces," Taliban spokesman Sirajuddin Ahmad said by telephone from an undisclosed location. A government official from the area said those killed were all civilians and none was a member of either the militia or the armed forces. Khyber Pakthunkhwa Chief Minister Ameer Haider Hoti strongly condemned the blast and termed it cowardly act of terrorism. In a statement, the CM said perpetrators behind this heinous crime against humanity would not be spared and would be brought to justice soon. He said anti-state elements will face defeat on every front and such acts could not shake the resolve and determination of the government. He said terrorists are enemy of Islam, Pakistan and humanity. End.
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