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8 FC men killed in Islamabad suicide attack

* Seven injured in blast near Margalla Road checkpost
* SSP says 11 FC men missing after blast
* Police arrest suspect from site

By Fazal Sher

ISLAMABAD: Eight Frontier Constabulary (FC) personnel were killed, and seven others injured, when a suicide bomber blew himself up on Saturday evening at an FC checkpost on Margala Road.

The blast, which took place at 7:35pm, was followed by an exchange of fire between FC jawans and unidentified accomplices of the suicide attacker. The crossfire continued for around 20 minutes, an eyewitness told Daily Times. However, police denied any exchange of fire, saying security officials had been firing in the air to scare away other attackers.

Law enforcement agencies cordoned off the area soon after the blast and started combing the area to track down the bomber’s accomplices. Ambulances, and fire fighting vehicles also reached the site and rushed the injured to the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences and Polyclinic Hospital. The authorities also placed both Rawalpindi and Islamabad on high alert.

Missing: Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Police Benyamin confirmed the casualties. He said that 37 constables had been present at the post at the time of the blast, adding that the terrorist used around six kilogrammes of explosives. Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Tahir Alam Khan told Daily Times 11 FC personnel were still missing. He said the legs of the suicide attacker had been recovered from the blast site.

Suspect: Police also arrested a suspicious person from the crime scene and spirited him away for instigation. Intelligence agencies had earlier warned of a possible terrorist act in the capital.

President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani strongly condemned the blast and offered their sincere condolences to the bereaved, APP reported.

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