41 Pakistanis Killed, 64 Injured in Twin Blasts in Kohat

Death toll from NW Pakistan blasts rises to 41

ISLAMABAD, April 17, 2010 (Xinhua) --

At least 41 people were killed in twin bomb blasts at an Internally Displaced Persons' camp in Kohat in northwestern Pakistan on Saturday, officials said.

Local officials told Xinhua that the death toll could rise as more than a dozen of the rest 64 injured people are in critical condition.

Earlier in the day a bomb went off at the registration point and the second blast occurred ten minutes later when people rushed to the scene to rescue.

The blasts took place when food relief were being distributed to the displaced people who fled from a military operation in Orakzai tribal region, police said.

Gunshots were heard soon after the blasts, witnesses said.

The private channel SAMAA TV lost its correspondent Azmat Ali Khan in the explosions.

No group claimed responsibility for the attacks but Taliban are blamed for such attacks.

30 killed in 2 blasts near refugee camp in NW Pakistan

ISLAMABAD, April 17, 2010, (Xinhua) --

At least 30 people were killed and dozens of others injured in two back to back explosions near an Internally Displaced Persons's (IDP) camp in northwest Pakistan 's Kohat on Saturday, police sources said.

Local officials told Xinhua that one blast occurred at the registration point while the second occurred when people gathered on the spot.

According to local sources, both blasts were suicide attacks.

The blasts took place one after another in 10 minutes at a relief distribution camp near the city of Kohat for people displaced as the result of a military operation in Orakzai tribal agency, police said.

When the people rushed to the camp site for relief activities, the second blast happened, according to witnesses. Police said that the second blast caused serious damage.

Gunshots were heard soon after the blast in the IDP's camp, witnesses said. Several buildings were damaged in the blasts.

The security forces and law enforcement agencies put security cordon around the blast site.

The camp called "Kacha Pakha" is located some 20 kilometers from Kohat, main city in the region. Officials said that some 300 IDPs were living in the camp.

Some 200,000 people have been displaced as the result of the military offensive against the Taliban militants in Orakzai agency.

The IDPs have been camped in Kohat and Hangu districts.

The injured were shifted to hospitals in Kohat and Hangu and the authorities declared emergency in hospitals.

Geo television said that some 50 people were injured, several of them are in critical condition.

No group has claimed responsibility for the attacks but suspected Taliban are blamed for such attacks.

Editor: Bi Mingxin

Pakistan blasts death toll hits 32

Press TV, Sat, 17 Apr 2010 12:00:32 GMT

The bombs were detonated minutes apart at a camp in the Kacha Pukka area of Kohat.
The death toll from twin bomb blasts that hit an office for internally displaced people in Pakistan's troubled northwestern region has reached 32.

Police say the bombs struck a registration office for displaced people near the city of Kohat. The explosions struck as displaced people, who were lining up to register.

More than 80 people have also been wounded. Earlier reports said 20 people were killed in the incident.

People in the northwestern parts of the country have been forced to leave their homes because of the government's military operations.

Islamabad says its offensives seek to flush out militants believed to be hiding in the area.

The United Nations says over a million people have been internally displaced in northwestern Pakistan.

Over 3,500 people have been killed in bombings and other attacks by militants throughout Pakistan since July 2007.

JR/MMN

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