Death toll in Rawalpindi bombing rises to 8

Islamabad, Feb 5: The death toll in a suicide attack in garrison town of Rawalpindi has risen to eight with three more people succumbing to their injuries.

The attack near the army's General Headquarters had initially left four people killed, including army officials, and injured 25 others. But a day after the incident, which was the second in the Royal Artillery (RA) Bazar in three months, the toll rose to eight. Those killed in the attacks included a lieutenant-colonel, a major and six others. The eighth victim remained unidentified.

According to security sources, a suicide bomber blew himself up near a vehicle of the armed forces at around 0730 hrs yesterday.

The biker, carrying high explosives, rammed his motorcycle into the minibus carrying trainees of the Armed Forces Post-Graduate Medical Institute (AFPGMI)in front of the offices of the National Logistics Cell's chief engineer.

The minibus was carrying doctors and military personnel to the institute when the suicide bomber struck it.

Among others who lost their lives were two Junior Commissioned Officers and an employee of the Military Engineering Service. Driver of the minibus and the motorcyclist also died.

At least 47 other people were injured in the powerful explosion, which was heard several kilometres away from the scene, sending a wave of panic through the vicinity.

The minibus was destroyed while three other vehicles, including a school van and a car, were damaged. Window panes of nearby buildings were shattered.

The injured were taken to the Combined Military Hospital and the Military Hospital. Doctors said the death toll might rise as the condition of some of the injured, the minibus driver among them, was critical.

According to the Inter-Services Public Relations, six personnel of the armed forces were killed and 38 others, including security personnel and civilians, were injured in the suicide attack at the RA Bazaar.

UNI