DPO Swat Shafiullah Gandapur confirmed the number of casualties to Media, terming the incident to be a “suicide attack”.
“The reports indicate that the roof of the counterterrorism department facility … caved in. Eight dead have been accounted for. The rescue effort is continuing. They are trying to remove the rubble,” said Al Jazeera’s Kamal Hyder on Monday.
Attaullah Khan, a police official in the district told AFP news agency that there were two explosions inside the CTD (counter-terrorism department) police station in Kabal town, Swat district.
A police official injured in the incident, Imdad Khan, told that initial information showed the attack occurred around 8:20pm inside the police station premises which also housed the Counter Terrorism Department and a mosque.
He said that all three buildings “collapsed” due to the blast, adding that a fire also erupted soon after.
Khan said that he was in the kitchen along with other officials when the entire building when the blast took place, adding that he heard two explosions.
Police said that several people were buried under the rubble while the injured were being rushed to Saidu Sharif Teaching Hospital. Meanwhile, an emergency was declared at all nearby hospitals.
He said that all three buildings “collapsed” due to the blast, adding that a fire also erupted soon after.
Khan said that he was in the kitchen along with other officials when the entire building when the blast took place, adding that he heard two explosions.
Police said that several people were buried under the rubble while the injured were being rushed to Saidu Sharif Teaching Hospital. Meanwhile, an emergency was declared at all nearby hospitals.
Separately, Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah strongly condemned the blast. In a statement, he expressed grief over the lives lost in the incident, state broadcaster Radio Pakistan reported. He offered his condolences to the bereaved families and prayer for the early recovery of the injured.
“We will never forget the sacrifices of the martyrs for the security of the country and the nation,” he said, vowing to eliminate the scourge of terrorism. The interior minister also sought a report on the incident
