Assassination of Shuja Khanzada
| 2015 Attock bombing | |
|---|---|
  Assassination of Shuja Khanzada (Pakistan) | |
| Location | Shadikhan, Attock District, Punjab, Pakistan |
| Coordinates | 33°55′21.0″N 72°22′46.6″E / 33.922500°N 72.379611°E |
| Date | 16 August 2015 |
| Target | Shuja Khanzada, Civilians |
Attack type | Assassination, Suicide attack |
| Weapons | Explosive belt |
| Deaths | at least 22; 20-25 missing[1] |
| Injured | 20+ |
| Perpetrators | Lashkar-e-Jhangvi (LeJ) |
| Motive | Revenge[2] |
On 16 August 2015, two suspected suicide bombers detonated explosives in the home of Punjab Interior Minister Shuja Khanzada in the Attock District village of Shadikhan, 80 km (50 mi) from the Pakistani capital of Islamabad. The blasts killed the minister and at least 21 other people; at least 20 people are still missing.[3] Lashkar-e-Jhangvi (LeJ), a Deobandi militant group with ties to Al-Qaeda, has claimed responsibility for the attack.[4]
Attack
On Sunday, 16 August 2015, the 71-year-old Khanzada was meeting with supporters at his home office in the village of Shadikhan when the attack was perpetrated by two men strapped with a combined 15 kg (33 lb) of explosives. According to the initial investigation, the bombers' intent was to collapse the building. The first bomber entered Khanzada's home office, shook his hand and detonated the device while standing next to one of the pillars on the veranda. It is believed a second bomber, standing on the street next to the building, then detonated his explosives, causing the building to collapse[5] when the roof of the house caved in, trapping an unknown number of people under the rubble.[1][3]
Investigation
According to a preliminary investigation, the attack may have been retaliation for the killing of Lashkar-e-Jhangvi militant leader Malik Ishaq by the Punjab Police.[3] The attack was strongly condemned throughout the country, including by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Chief of Army Staff General Raheel Shareef.[2]
International reactions
The attack has been condemned by international leaders, including United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, who called for justice against those who planned the attack.[6]
The United States also condemned the attack and offered to assist with the investigation. The U.S. Embassy in Islamabad issued a statement, saying, “We support Pakistan’s determination to bring to justice those behind the attack and are prepared to provide assistance, if requested, to government authorities investigating this reprehensible act.”[7]
See also
- Targeted killings in Pakistan
- Terrorist incidents in Pakistan in 2015
- List of terrorist incidents, 2015
Reference
- ^ a b Ali, Sarfraz (16 August 2015). "Death toll rises to 22 in suicide attack at Punjab Interior Minister Shuja Khanzada's political office in Attock". Daily Pakistan. Retrieved 17 August 2015.
- ^ a b "Khanzada attack in retaliation of LeJ chief's killing: sources". Express Tribune. 16 August 2015. Retrieved 16 August 2015.
- ^ a b c "Punjab minister Shuja Khanzada killed in Pakistan blast". BBC. 16 August 2015. Retrieved 17 August 2015.
- ^ Daud, Khawaja. "Punjab Home Minister Shuja Khanzada dies in suicide attack". Daily Pakistan. Retrieved 16 August 2015.
- ^ Hussain, Fayyaz (18 August 2015). "15 kg explosives used in attack on Shuja Khanzada". Daily Pakistan. Retrieved 17 August 2015.
- ^ Ali, Sarfraz (17 August 2015). "Ban Ki-moon condemns Attock terrorist attack". Daily Pakistan. Retrieved 17 August 2015.
- ^ "US offers help to probe Pak minister's killing". Tribune India. 18 August 2015. Retrieved 17 August 2015.