16 cops martyred in explosion at CTD police station in Swat

Swat: 16 security personnel including two officers of Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) were martyred while 70  sustained the injuries in an explosion at the police station in Kabal area of Swat on Monday night.

According to details, eight of the injured are in critical condition. 

Deputy Inspector General (DIG) CTD Khalid Sohail said that there was an explosion in the police station due to which the building collapsed.

Following the blast, the electricity in the area was cut off, however the nature of the explosion has not been ascertained as yet.

According to Khalid Sohail, two explosions took place in CTD Kabal.

“There were weapons and mortar shells were also present in the police station. One of the possibilities is that blast could have occurred due to the explosion of mortar shells or there may also have been a suicide blast,” stated DIG.

He added that blast did not take place at the gate of police station which usually happens in a suicide attack. The building of the police station was old, most of the offices and officials were present in the new building.

Inspector General (IG) Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Akhtar Hayat Gandapur confirmed the death of five and 15 injured people in the blast stating that security is on high alert in the province.

District Police Officer (DPO) Swat Shafiullah said that according to bomb disposal squad blast took place due to short circuit in weapon area as there has been no evidence of the blast from outside as yet. Hovwever, other aspects of the explosion are being investigated.

Health Department of KP has declared emergency in the hospitals of Swat and stated that people affected by the blast should be provided treatment on an emergency basis.

Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, Foriegn Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah Khan and former Prime Minister Imran Khan strongly condemned the blast. Shehbaz Sharif has summoned the report of the incident from the relevant authorities.