This article relies largely or entirely on a single source. (April 2024) |
The August 2008 Dera Ismail Khan suicide bombing took place on 19 August 2008, near the Emergency Ward of District Headquarter Hospital in Dera Ismail Khan, killing 32, including 7 policemen. Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan claimed responsibility for the attack.[1]
| 2008 Dera Ismail Khan suicide bombing | |
|---|---|
| Part of War in North-West Pakistan | |
  DHQ Hospital DHQ Hospital (Dera Ismail Khan)  DHQ Hospital DHQ Hospital (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa)  DHQ Hospital DHQ Hospital (Pakistan) | |
| Location | District Head Quarter Hospital, Dera Ismail Khan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan |
| Coordinates | 31°49′20.6508″N 70°54′41.2128″E / 31.822403000°N 70.911448000°E |
| Date | August 19, 2008 |
| Target | Shia protesters |
Attack type | Suicide attack |
| Weapons | Explosive belt |
| Deaths | 32 (+1 attacker) |
| Injured | 55 |
| Victims | Shia protesters and Police officers (at the spot) |
| Perpetrators | Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan |
| Participant | 1 |
| Defenders | Pakistan Army KPK Police |
| Motive | Retaliation against Operation Sherdill in Bajaur Agency. |
Events
editBombing
editEarly in the day of the attack, a Shiite scholar Basit Ali was shot dead by gunmen. Many Shii gathered there to protest his death when a suicide bomber blew himself up in the crowd. The blast created many casualties, including the policemen who were controlling the crowd.[1]
Aftermath
editThe Army took control of the area. The injured were brought to military and public hospitals. The blast led to fear of eruption between sects, leading many shops, markets and business centers to close. Section 144 was imposed and pillion-riding was banned for an indefinite period.[1]
Reactions
editShia Community
editThe Shia community observed a three-day mourning from Wednesday in the city for victims of attack.[1]
Perpetrators
editThe spokesman of Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan Moulvi Omer claimed responsibility for the attack calling it a retaliation against Operation Sherdill and said that the suicide attacks would continue until the military stopped operations in Swat and Bajaur Agency. However Omer disagreed with public opinion of the motive of attack and said that the attack was not against religion but was against government authorities and security forces.[1]
Victim's memorial ceremony
editThree years after the attack, a memorial ceremony to honour the victims was held on 19 August 2011 and was attended by many people, including the relatives of 20 deceased and 25 injured who belonged to the same family.[2]
References
edit- ^ a b c d e "Suicide bomber hits D.I. Khan hospital: 32 killed, 55 injured; Tehrik-i-Taliban claims responsibility for the carnage". Dawn. 20 August 2008. Retrieved 10 March 2017.
- ^ "Remembrance: Hospital blast victims' memorial ceremony held". The Express Tribune. 21 August 2011. Retrieved 11 March 2017.