Suicide Bombing In Pakistan Judicial Complex Kills Four, Injures 29; Judge Among Critically Injured

At least, four persons were killed and more than 30 people including a judge were injured in a suicide bomb attack in the premises of a judicial complex in Peshawar, Monday.

Two attackers wearing vests laden with explosives attempted to enter the judicial complex from the jail road entrance, where they were stopped by the security personnel. One of the attackers threw grenade in the court room of Additional Sessions Judge Kulsoom Azam, before blowing himself up, the Express Tribune reported.

The lady judge, Kulsoom Azam was critically injured in the attack and is under treatment in Lady Reading Hospital. According to local media reports, 29 others were injured in the attack.

The militants were apparently targeting the jail in an attempt to free some of the inmates, Reuters reported. The other attacker was shot dead by the security, and the explosives were later defused by the bomb disposal squad. The attackers had six kilograms of explosives and four kilograms of ball bearings filled in their vests.

Pakistan Information Minister Mian Iftikhar Hussain told Express News that three among those killed were officials. Referring to the attack as an attempt to disrupt the upcoming national elections, Hussain said despite the tight security measures, militants managed to strike.

“Even if you have very tight security, they planned to get around it,” he said, adding, “Security has been improved and will continue to be improved but these incidents will continue to happen, and the twenty days leading up to elections will see more activity.”