Dawn : Pakistan opens probe into suicide attack that killed 19 security officers, one civilian

Pakistan opens probe into suicide attack that killed 19 security officers, one civilian

AP | October 26, 2007

PESHAWAR, Pakistan, Oct 26 (AP) Pakistani security officials Friday investigated the scene of a deadly suicide attack that killed 20 people in northwestern Pakistan, just days after troops were sent to the region to quell pro-Taliban militants.

It remained unclear who orchestrated Thursday's attack, which killed one civilian and 19 paramilitary soldiers and left three dozen wounded.

But the assailants appeared to have inside information about the movement of security personnel, said local mayor Fazlur Rehman.

The bomber hit a truck carrying about 45 Frontier Constabulary forces near the main police station in Swat district, where 2,500 paramilitary troops were deployed this week to counter a militant cleric.

On Friday, Arshad Majid, the top government official in Swat, said he hoped the perpetrators of the attack would be captured soon.

"We have examined the wreckage of the engine of the car used in the attack, and we are now trying to find the car's owner," he said. "Those who planned this attack should soon be captured."