The terrorist who blew himself up at the
entrance of a Shia mosque in Mochi Gate on October 10,
killing at least three people and injuring eight, has
been identified as a resident of Haripur and was linked
to banned militant organisation Lashkar-e-Jhangvi, sources
told Daily Times on Wednesday.
They said a resident of
Hazara, who knew the bomber, recognised him after a photograph
of his severed head was published. He immediately informed
the police who raided the bomber’s and his relatives’
houses and arrested his entire family, they added. Later,
a Crime Investigation Department (CID) team took over
the case from the Police Department, sources said, adding
that a CID superintendent of police (SP) supervised the
operation and investigation.
Sources said the bomber was linked to
Lashkar-e-Jhangvi and also fought in Afghanistan two and
a half years ago. They also said the bomber was trained
in weapons and explosives at militant camps in Kabul and
Khost in Afghanistan.
Sources said the investigation was now
focused on the bomber’s accomplice, who was still
unidentified and on the run. The CID had in this connection
taken in a suspected militant, Ijaz Kashmiri from Allama
Iqbal Town, for interrogation, but released him a couple
of days ago.
The suicide bomber, who blew himself at
the entrance of Jamia Shia Masjid Kashmirian on October
10, would have caused a lot more damage had the two security
guards posted at the mosque not stopped the bomber from
entering the main hall packed with at least 90 worshippers
assembled for Maghrib prayers at around 6:40pm.
Dilbar Ali, one of the security guards,
was shot when he tried to stop the bearded bomber carrying
a briefcase at the mosque entrance. The bomber then tried
to run into the main hall when the second security guard,
Jaffar Hussain, tackled him. The bomber detonated the
explosives when he realised that his mission had failed
and he could not penetrate the main hall. Both security
guards and a 15-year-old-boy, Salman, who was standing
behind Jaffar were killed instantly in the explosion.
