Major terrorist plot foiled by security forces in Quetta

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Two suspects were arrested during the operation by security forceswho were shifted to an unspecified location for further questioning. — File Photo

QUETTA: Security forces conducted a raid in Quetta’s suburban area of Rind Garh on Thursday and foiled a major terror plot planned for eid, DawnNews reported.

Sources said that security forces recovered 12,000 kilograms of explosive material in 20 sacks, 20 rockets, seven RPGs, six cylinders, two hand grenades, ten controlled detonator systems, two gunpowder mixing machines, around 50 police uniforms, three cylinders filed with bearings, three SMGs, 15 suicide vests and an automobile during the raid.

Three suspects were arrested during the operation

The suspects were shifted to an unspecified location for further questioning.

A nearby religious seminary was also searched during the operation.

Dawn 

Terror bid foiled in Quetta

MONITORING DESK




Police discovered an explosive laden car during a raid in the Shalkot, Quetta and foiled another major terror plot on Thursday, a local television channel said.

Four cylinders filled with explosives, 37 rockets and a suicide jacket were recovered along with uniforms, detonators and remote controlled bombs. 

Three suspects have been arrested and explosives were diffused. 

Forces also raided Rindh Garh in suburban Quetta and prevented a major terrorist plot.

According to the source, the forces recovered 12,000 kilograms, suicide vests and a vehicle in the raid.

The forces also arrested two suspects and shifted them to an undisclosed location for interrogation.

Pakistan Today

Lej claims Faiz Abad blast

ARY Reports on Faiz Abad, Quetta Explosion (Suicide Bomber killed himself and his family members)

Suicide bomber killed himself and his family members by mishandling the car bomb

Local authorities are trying to cover up the incident, and protect the terrorists.

Five killed, 11 injured in Quetta blast

Monday, August 06, 2012
From Print Edition





QUETTA: Five people, including two women and two children, were killed and 11 others were injured on Sunday after an 80kg explosive being driven around by a suspected militant accidentally went off before he could reach his intended target. “We have found a severed head, believed to be of a militant who was killed in the blast,” police officer Mukhtar Ahmed told reporters following the incident that ripped apart a house in the Faizabad area of the provincial capital. “The target was not clear. We have launched an investigation to identify the militant. Police are also interrogating the owner of the house,” he added.

Abdul Razzaq, in-charge of the bomb-disposal squad in Quetta, told reporters that the car was carrying between 80 and 100 kg (180-220 pounds) of explosives. According to police details, the explosion occurred outside the house of Dr Azam Mengal, located on Killi Faizabad, Sariab Road. Following the explosion, flames engulfed and eventually gutted the entire house. Three cars and two other houses in the vicinity were also badly damaged. The 11 victims were shifted to the Civil Hospital and Bolan Medical Complex (BMC) by Edhi ambulances and were identified as Hassan Nasir, Zahid, Bibi Samina, Bibi Abida, Laraib, Zehra, Nadra, Yasin and Shafiullah. According to hospital sources, their condition is said to be critical.

Following the explosion, police and the FC personnel reached the scene and cordoned off the area. DIG Operations Wazir Khan Nassar told reporters that an 80kg explosive in the car had caused the explosion and massive destruction. He added that Dr Azam Mengal was currently in Dubai, and had rented the house to some people belonging to Noshki.

Upon receiving news of the incident, President Asif Ali Zardari strongly condemned the blast and said that such dastardly acts of terrorism would not deter the people’s determination to root out terrorism from the country. The president expressed sorrow over the loss of lives and directed that the best medical care be provided to the casualties.Information Minister Qamar Zaman Kaira and Minister of State for Information Syed Samsam Bukhari also condemned the Quetta bomb blast.

Muhammad Ejaz Khan adds: The powerful bomb blast, which killed at least five persons, including children, on Sunday went off at around 11:50am. The thud of the explosion was heard several kilometres away in the provincial capital. Panic gripped the area soon after the blast, and frightened people could be seen running around after the powerful explosion.

Confirming the number of deaths, official sources said that five persons were killed in the powerful bomb explosion. The condition of some of the injured is stated to be precarious, hospital sources said.

Eyewitnesses told The News that the billowing smoke could be seen following the loud bang of the explosion. Due to the explosion, a portion of the house caved in as well. “I saw nothing but darkness. When I opened my eyes in the hospital, I was being treated,” said one of the injured while talking to reporters.

DIG Police Wazir Khan Nasar confirmed that the explosion had taken place inside a vehicle near the house, and added that police had launched an investigation into the incident. The names of the other deceased are yet to be confirmed because the deceased recently shifted to the house, said police officials.

The News

Afghan nomad clashes raise fears of ethnic strife

Hazara tribesman MP Nasseri, who is fighting against nomadic Kuchis, poses during an interview with AFP in the Kajab Valley of Behsud district, Wardak province, on July 19. Bloody raids by nomads armed with machine guns and rocket launchers on villages near Kabul are raising fears about a return to ethnic conflict in Afghanistan 18 months before NATO combat troops leave.

An Afghan Hazara tribesman poses with an antique rifle, for protection against attacks by nomadic Kuchis, in Kajab valley of Behsud district, Wardak province, on July 19. Bloody raids by nomads armed with machine guns and rocket launchers on villages near Kabul are raising fears about a return to ethnic conflict in Afghanistan 18 months before NATO combat troops leave.

Afghan Hazara tribesmen look over the remains of their property on July 19, destroyed during a recent attack by nomadic Kuchis, in Kajab valley of Behsud district, Wardak province. Bloody raids by nomads armed with machine guns and rocket launchers on villages near Kabul are raising fears about a return to ethnic conflict in Afghanistan 18 months before NATO combat troops leave.

Afghan Hazara tribesmen gather on July 19 near the remains of their property, destroyed during a recent attack by nomadic Kuchis, in Kajab valley of Behsud district, Wardak province. Bloody raids by nomads armed with machine guns and rocket launchers on villages near Kabul are raising fears about a return to ethnic conflict in Afghanistan 18 months before NATO combat troops leave.

France 24

Taliban fighters kill 6 in ambush

BY ALI SAFI
McClatchy Newspapers

Taliban-led insurgents killed two New Zealand soldiers and four Afghan intelligence officers Saturday in an ambush in the central province of Bamiyan, local officials said Sunday.

The intelligence officers, members of the National Directorate of Security (NDS), Afghanistan's spy agency, had received a report of explosives stockpiled in the Baghak area of Shibar district and mounted an operation to seize them, said Abdul Rahman Ahmadi, the spokesman for the Bamiyan's governor. But the Taliban fighters were waiting to ambush the officers, Ahmadi said.

The besieged intelligence officers summoned assistance from New Zealand troops based in Bamiyan. When the New Zealand troops arrived, they were also fired on. Two New Zealanders were killed and six wounded, Ahmadi said.

Ten intelligence officers, an Afghan police officer and a civilian were wounded.

A spokesman to the U.S.-led International Security Assistance Force confirmed the death of two ISAF soldiers on Saturday but refused to provide any further details.

However, the New Zealand Defense Force confirmed that their two soldiers were killed and another six were wounded, Reuters reported.

"The New Zealand Defense Force was responding to local security force coming under attack and it developed into a serious incident," said Jonathan Coleman, New Zealand's defense minister.

Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid claimed responsibility for the ambush in a statement posted on the Taliban website. He said four New Zealand soldiers were killed and four others were wounded. Taliban reports of casualties usually are exaggerated.

Bamiyan, in central Afghanistan, is dominated the Hazara ethnic group, most of whom are Shiite Muslims. The province is traditionally anti-Taliban, who are Sunni Muslims, but there has been an increase in violence there in recent months.



"The roads between neighboring provinces are totally unsafe," said Ahmadi.

Ahmadi called for more assistance from the government of President Hamid Karzai. "The Bamiyan provincial government is not capable of fighting insurgents in this province. We need help," he said.

Bamiyan's police chief echoed that plea, saying his officers are not properly equipped. "The police force in Bamiyan lacks heavy weapons," the chief, Gen. Juma Gilki Yardam, said.

Also Saturday, Afghanistan's lower house of Parliament dismissed two key ministers over their failure to respond to cross-border shelling by Pakistan into Afghanistan and deteriorating security in the country.

Abdul Rahim Wardak, the defense minister, and Bismillah Mohammadi, the interior minister, also were accused of corruption and nepotism. Both ministers denied the allegations. Sunday, Karzai allowed both disqualified ministers to stay as acting ministers until replacements are named.

(Safi is a McClatchy special correspondent.)

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