Pakistan: Death toll from Swat police station explosions rises to 16

The death toll in Monday's twin blasts that rocked the Kabal police station in Swat valley, Pakistan has risen to 16 on Tuesday. This includes nine police officers and six civilians while one more body is yet to be identified. The police officials are yet to ascertain the cause of the explosions. As many as 63 people were injured in the explosions out of which eight were in critical condition. 

The explosion occurred on the premises of the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) office of the Kabal police station around 8.30 pm yesterday. The explosions shattered the roof of the police station and the CTD office and triggered a fire as well.

 

The Swat Valley was



long controlled by Islamist militants before they were flushed out in a military operation in 2009. According to a senior police official, the police station had an old ammunition store in the office and police were probing whether that caused the explosions or it was a militant attack. No one has claimed responsibility for the blasts so far.

 

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Inspector General Akhtar Hayat said that based on the preliminary investigation there were no indications of forced entry or gunshots. He confirmed that the authorities were currently reviewing the video footage of the crime scene. Security officials across the province are on high alert.