Bajaur suicide blast death toll rises to 54

The Bajaur suicide blast death toll has risen to 54 after more wounded in the explosion succumbed to their injuries on Monday, officials said.

Earlier, 43 people were killed and over 90 injured when a suicide bomber detonated himself at Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) workers’ convention on Sunday in Khar, Bajaur.

Khar is the district headquarters of Bajaur district.

JUI-F Khar tehsil chief Maulana Ziaullah Jan was also among the victims.

83 injured people are undergoing treatment at different hospitals, Counter-Terrorism Department’s (CTD) Additional Inspector General Shokat Abbas said.

A video clip is being circulated on social media apparently recorded by someone who was present at the gathering. The video captured the deadly blast and also shows that children were also in attendance at the political gathering.

 

An initial probe into the deadly suicide attack suggests that the banned Islamic State group – also known as Daesh – was responsible for the suicide attack targeting a meeting of JUI-F workers.

Sharing the investigation update, the official said the convention began at 2 pm while the explosion occurred two hours later at 4:10 pm.

He added that ball bearings and other stuff used in making the explosives had been found at the site of the explosion.

He also confirmed that 10-12kg of explosives were used in the blast. 

Abbas further stated that the terrorist group behind the attack had been identified, which had targeted someone “specific” in the gathering.

He said that the initial probe had led the CTD to close to the attack’s perpetrators.

 

According to Bajaur District Health Officer Faisal Kamal, more than 80 injured had been brought to Bajaur District Headquarters Hospital, while those in critical condition were being shifted to Peshawar’s Lady Reading Hospital (LRH).

He said hospitals across Bajaur and neighboring areas had been put on high alert.

“We are trying to move critical patients to Peshawar and other hospitals through helicopters,” he added.