April 2010 Kohat bombings
Encyclopedia
The April 2010 Kohat bombings were a pair of bombings that struck a center for displaced people on the outskirts of the town of Kohat
, in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
, on April 17, 2010. At least 41 people were killed, while another 64 more were injured.
The next day another suicide bombing at a police station killed 7 more and injured nearly two dozen.
in north-west Pakistan near the Afghanistan
border. The victims were among 300 people queued to register for aid at the camp. The suicide bombers were reported to be wearing burqa
s, and having set off their bombs within minutes of each other. Most of the victims were from Baramad Khel and Mani Khel tribes who had fled fighting in Orakzai Agency
.
has claimed responsibility.
temporarily suspended operations assisting refugees in the Kohat region. There are more than 200,000 internally displaced persons in the area of the incident.
Pakistan's Defence Minister, Ahmad Mukhtar, called the attacks "highly barbaric and cowardly."
Kohat
Kohat is a medium sized town in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan. It is located at 33°35'13N 71°26'29E with an altitude of 489 metres and is the capital of Kohat District. The town centres around a British-era fort, various bazaars, and a military cantonment. A British-built narrow gauge...
, in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
, on April 17, 2010. At least 41 people were killed, while another 64 more were injured.
The next day another suicide bombing at a police station killed 7 more and injured nearly two dozen.
April 17
The bombings happened at the Kacha Pukha camp, set up for internally displaced persons that had fled the Orakzai tribal areaOrakzai
Orakzai is a Pashtun tribe settled in the Orakzai Agency of Pakistan. It consists of eighteen clans. Most of the members are situated in the North West Frontier Province of Pakistan.-Location:...
in north-west Pakistan near the Afghanistan
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
border. The victims were among 300 people queued to register for aid at the camp. The suicide bombers were reported to be wearing burqa
Burqa
A burqa is an enveloping outer garment worn by women in some Islamic religion to cover their bodies in public places. The burqa is usually understood to be the woman's loose body-covering , plus the head-covering , plus the face-veil .-Etymology:A speculative and unattested etymology...
s, and having set off their bombs within minutes of each other. Most of the victims were from Baramad Khel and Mani Khel tribes who had fled fighting in Orakzai Agency
Orakzai Agency
Orakzai Agency is one of the Federally Administered Tribal Areas of Pakistan. It has a population of 450,000 and an area of .- History :The Orakzai tribes take their name, which literally means the lost son , from a romantic legend about their ancestor, Sikandar Shah, who was a prince from Iran,...
.
April 18
The next day another suicide bomber attacked a police station in response to military operations in Kohat killing 7 and wounding 21. The police chief of Kohat, Dilawar Khan Bangash, said: "It was a suicide attack. The target was a police station. The bomber exploded his vehicle on the back side of the police station. These incidents are a reaction to the military operation in the tribal areas."Responsibility
A Sunni militant organisation, Lashkar-e-JhangviLashkar-e-Jhangvi
Lashkar-e-Jhangvi is a militant organization. Formed in 1996, it has operated in Pakistan since Sipah-e-Sahaba activist Riaz Basra broke away from the SSP over differences with his seniors...
has claimed responsibility.
Response
In the aftermath of the bombings, the United NationsUnited Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
temporarily suspended operations assisting refugees in the Kohat region. There are more than 200,000 internally displaced persons in the area of the incident.
Pakistan's Defence Minister, Ahmad Mukhtar, called the attacks "highly barbaric and cowardly."
See also
- List of terrorist incidents, 2010
- List of terrorist incidents in Pakistan since 2001
- War in North-West PakistanWar in North-West PakistanThe War in North-West Pakistan is an armed conflict between the Pakistan Armed Forces and armed religious groups such as the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan , Lashkar-e-Islam, TSNM, Arab and Central Asian militants including Al-Qaeda, regional armed movements and elements of organized crime.The armed...