Three Federal Constabulary (FC) officials were martyred in a suicide attack near the FC Headquarters in the Saddar area, Peshawar, confirmed by IG Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Zulfiqar Hameed.

The suicide attack occurred on Monday at 8:10pm.

According to the IG Police, three terrorists in total attacked the FC Headquarters, out of them, one blew himself up at the entrance, while the Police eliminated the other two.

At least five other people, including two FC officials, were injured and shifted to the Lady Reading Hospital.

According to rescue officials, teams were dispatched to the site to determine the nature of the blast. Ambulances and emergency personnel were also moving into the area to assist anyone affected.

According to police, the blast shattered the windowpanes of nearby buildings, while gunfire was also reported from the vicinity. The Saddar Road had been closed to traffic as security teams cordoned off the area.

CCPO Peshawar said that the operation was initiated, and the entire locality has been taken into a security perimeter. He added that the exact nature of the explosion is still being determined.

President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday strongly condemned the terrorist attack carried out by Fitna al Khawarij targeting the Federal Constabulary Headquarters in Peshawar.

The president and prime minister, in their separately issued statements, appreciated the timely response by the police and security forces, which averted a major loss.

Calling the attack a cowardly act of foreign-backed anti-state elements, they reiterated the government’s resolve to completely wipe out terrorism from the country.

“The attack is a cowardly act by foreign-backed terrorists who are enemies of our beloved country. The complete elimination of foreign-sponsored Khawarij terrorism from Pakistan is our top priority.”

President Zardari said and expressed sympathies with the bereaved families of the martyrs and prayed for the swift recovery of the injured.

Prime Minister Shehbaz said that those responsible for the incident should be identified at the earliest and brought to justice.

He directed to extend immediate medical assistance to the injured and prayed for their swift recovery.

“We will thwart the evil designs of the terrorists who attack Pakistan’s security. The Government of Pakistan is fully determined to completely eradicate terrorism from the country,” he reiterated.