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35 killed in Rawalpindi attack

* Suicide bomber targets serving, retired military personnel, employees of Defence Ministry who had gathered outside a bank to draw salaries, pension
* Four soldiers among those killed in bombing

By Aamir Yasin

RAWALPINDI: At least 35 people, including two women and children, were killed and 63 others injured when a suicide bomber blew himself up outside a branch of the National Bank of Pakistan (NBP) on Monday.

The majority of the blasts victims were military personnel and employees of the Defence Ministry who had queued up at the NBP Shalimar Plaza Branch to draw their salaries.

It was the second terrorist attack in the Red Zone area of the garrison city within a month.

According to eyewitnesses, many of the victims were retired military personnel who had gathered at the bank to draw their pensions. Several surrounding offices, part of a nearby hotel and a number of vehicles were also destroyed.

The eyewitnesses said the attack occurred at 10:40am when a man riding a motorbike approached the parking lot of the plaza and blew himself up in front of the NBP branch, in close proximity with the Pearl Continental hotel, the military’s General Headquarters and the State Bank of Pakistan.

Rawalpindi Regional Police Officer (RPO) Aslam Tareen confirmed the eyewitnesses’ account. “We found parts of a suicide vest and some body parts of the suicide attacker. At least 35 people were killed and 63 others were wounded,” he said.

Four soldiers killed: Inter-Services Public Relations Director General Major General Athar Abbas said four soldiers were killed and nine wounded in the attack.

He said police had formed a special investigation team, led by Senior Superintendent (Operations) Yasin Farooq, to probe the attack.

He said the terrorists were now planning to attack public places rather than focusing on security personnel, adding that in response the police would plan extra security measures for the people in and around the city.

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