Islamabad - Saba:
Local authorities in Pakistan announced today, Wednesday, that the death toll from the suicide attack that targeted a security facility in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province in the northwest of the country has risen to 13 dead, including six children and five soldiers.
The Pakistani Civil Defense stated in a statement that suicide bombers stormed the security facility yesterday with booby-trapped cars, killing at least 13 civilians, including children, and wounding about 30 others, while a military official confirmed that the explosion caused the roof of a nearby mosque, buildings and walls to collapse shortly after the Iftar time while the market in the area was crowded with shoppers.
For his part, the Pakistani army said that five of its soldiers were killed in the operation, along with four suicide bombers, without any party claiming responsibility for the attack so far.
In a related context, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the attack, saying, "We will never allow the evil goals of Pakistan's enemies to be achieved." It is worth noting that this suicide attack comes a few days after six people were killed and others were injured in an explosion inside Haqqania University in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, which has been witnessing a dangerous security escalation between armed groups and regular forces for months.