The Hindu Business Line : Death toll rises to 78 in Pak blast

ISLAMABAD: Six people today succumbed to injuries they sustained in yesterday's twin suicide blasts near an ordnance factory complex within a high-security cantonment near the Pakistani capital, taking the toll in the deadly attack to 78.

A total of 72 deaths were registered till late last night. More than 100 people were injured in the attack, the deadliest suicide bombing witnessed in Pakistan this year. One suicide bomber blew himself up near the main gate of the Pakistan Ordnance Fac tories at Wah Cantonment, about 50 km from Islamabad, while the second attacker detonated his explosives near another gate of the establishment.

The bombers struck shortly after 2.30 pm, when a shift at the ordnance factories had just ended. Hundreds of civilian workers of the factories were emerging from the gates at the time of the attack.

The Pakistan Ordnance Factories Hospital commandant, Brig Arshad Zia, told reporters today that six more people had succumbed to their injuries, taking the toll to 78.

Police officials today confirmed reports that a third would-be suicide bomber had been detained near the ordnance factory. Police had yesterday found a suicide jacket and explosives in a mosque located near the site of the blasts. The Pakistani Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack, with spokesman Maulvi Omar saying it was carried out in retaliation for operations being conducted by security forces against it in Bajaur tribal region.

Omar told reporters that the Taliban would carry out more such attacks in cities like Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Lahore, Karachi and Peshawar if the government did not halt operations against the militants. The interior ministry has sounded an alert across the country and security has been further tightened at all military installations. - PTI

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