PESHAWAR (Zafar Iqbal, Shehzad Mehmood): At least eleven people were killed while dozens of others injured in a powerful blast that rocked a posh hotel in Peshawar here Tuesday, reports ARY NEWS.
The blast, occurred at the entrance of a 5-star hotel situated at GT Road of Saddar, was as powerful as it completely destroyed the hotel’s main entrance and external structure, says the channel. Several vehicles parked outside the hotel were also destroyed in the blast.
AIG Peshawar said that eleven people have been killed in the blast while near 50 others were injured, including many foreigners.
Fire erupted at the ground floor of the building after the blast and was extinguished by the firefighters. Army troops along with the police and paramedics also arrived at the scene soon after the incident and cordoned off the area.
According to ARY NEWS, near 30 injured have been rushed to nearby Lady Reading Hospital where emergency has already been declared.
Many foreigners, including three citizens of Nigeria, were included in the injured, ARY NEWS footage from the blast site shows. It is noted here that the hotel was being used as the permanent residence vy United Nations’ various agencies’ staffers deputed in NWFP.
News reports claimed that few notables of Peshawar were also among injured.
Electricity of the area was interrupted following the blast and the created difficulties in relief activities. The hotel is located adjacent to NWFP Provincial Assembly and other important public offices.
Eyewitnesses told the ARY NEWS that the terrorists boarding in a car first targeted the security checkpost at the entrance of the hotel. At the same time, a Shehzore vehicle, filled with explosives, attempted to enter the hotel premises and on resistance by the security guards rammed with the outside wall.
Police also arrested a suspected person from the blast site.
According to preliminary investigations, near 550 kg of explosives were used in the blast, says the channel.
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