ISLAMABAD, May 13 (IANS): At least 68 people were killed and over 80 injured Friday when two powerful explosions tore through a group of troopers who were boarding buses at their training centre in Charsadda city to go on leave. The Taliban, which has vowed to avenge Osama bin Laden's killing, claimed responsibility for the attack.
The massive bombings took place at the main gate of the Frontier Corps (FC) training center when the newly-trained troopers were all set to go on 10-day leave, Xinhua reported citing local media reports.
Nisar Marwat, an official, said the blasts killed 68 people, including three civilians, and injured over 80.
The FC comes under the federal government and performs security duties across the country, mostly in the northwestern and southwestern parts.
The attack took place at about 6.10 a.m. when a motorcycle and a horse cart, both packed with explosives, targetted the Frontier Corps training center, which is located some 30 km northeast of Peshawar in northwestern Pakistan.
Over 15 shops and a number of vehicles were destroyed in the deafening blasts.
The terror strike is the most serious in Pakistan since Osama's killing by US commandos in Abbottabad May 2. Both Al Qaida and Pakistani Taliban had vowed to avenge Osama's death by threatening to launch attacks in Pakistan as well as in other parts of the world.
The Pakistani Taliban Friday said it had carried out the Charsadda attacks.
Geo TV reported that a Taliban spokesman claimed responsibility for the attacks.
Jehanzb Khan, a police officer, said the troopers who were targeted had completed training and were supposed to be deployed on duties after a 10-day holiday.
Xinhua quoted police sources as saying that apparently the attackers had information about the time the troopers had to gather there.
The dead troopers men were among of the batch of 818 personnel who had recently completed one-year training and were ready to assume duties after holidays.
Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani condemned the bomb attacks and said "such cowardly acts could not undermine the war against these elements".
