Journalist's residence attacked third time in Peshawar

PESHAWAR: The house of the bureau chief of a private news organisation was damaged in a bomb attack in Murshidabad area of the city while security personnel claimed to have seized a haul of weapons and explosives near Saifan checkpost on Kohat Road, DawnNews reported. Jamshid Baghwan, the Peshawar bureau chief of Expressnews and his family members remained unhurt in the attack. Police sources said that unknown motorcycle-riding persons had placed the explosives, concealed in a milk pack, outside the residence of the journalist and fled from the scene after which the bomb exploded with a huge bang. The intensive blast shattered window panes in the locality, caused damage to the exterior of the house and vehicles which were parked nearby. Bomb Disposal Squad officials said that the home-made explosive device weighed 800 grams. Emergency and security teams reached the attack site and cordoned off the area as a probe into the incident went underway. This is the third attack on the journalist's residence with the first incident taking place in March and the second on April 6. Weapons and explosives seized Law enforcement agencies claimed to have arrested four suspects, transporting explosives and weapons, from the main Kohat Road area near Saifan checkpost. Superintendent of Police (Rural) Shakir Bangash told Dawn that five kilograms of explosives, two hand grenades, three pistols, a Kalashnikov rifle and other ammunition was being smuggled in a vehicle from Dara Adamkhel to the settled areas for terrorist activities when it was intercepted by law enforcement personnel. Four suspects were arrested and according to the initial reports the accused belonged to Spin Qabar area of Bara on the border of Khyber tribal region and were believed to be affiliated with the outlawed Lashkar-i-Islam militant group.