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The 2008 Wah bombing was a double suicide attack on the Pakistan Ordnance Factories in Wah, Pakistan, on August 21, 2008. The attack, which killed at least 60 and wounded over 100, is the deadliest on a military site in Pakistan's history. A spokesman for the Pakistani Taliban said they had carried out the attacks, which he said were a response to army violence against militants in the country's north-west.

Background

The Pakistan Ordnance Factories (POF) in Wah, Pakistan, is the center of the country's defence industry. Nearly 25,000 workers are employed there to produce explosives, weapons and other conventional arms and ammunition.

Since July 2007, the northwest region of Pakistan, where the POF are located, has been the site of a wave of militant violence, in which hundreds of militants and Pakistani security force members have been killed. Violence in the region had subsided after the new coalition government, which came to power after the February 2008 general election, had begun talks with tribal leader Baitullah Mehsud. However, violence resumed when Mehsud suspended talks in June. Following an impeachment movement launched by major opposition parties, the President of Pakistan Pervez Musharraf resigned on 18 August, 2008, ending his nine years as head of the country.

Details

The bombers hit the city, 30 km (18 miles) north of Islamabad, as workers were leaving the site. The first blast took place outside the gate of the factory as workers were leaving work during a shift change. Minutes later, another blast took place at another gate of the same factory.

Responsibility

Maulvi Omar, a spokesman for the Pakistani Taliban, said his group the Tehrik-e-Taliban had carried out the attacks, which he said were in response to military operations against militants in the Bajaur region. He warned that if the Pakistani government continues operations there, "we will continue such attacks". He further stated that the "Wah factory is a killer factory where arms are being produced to kill our women and children."

Government response

In a message, Dr Fahmida Mirza, Speaker of the National Assembly, and Faisal Karim Kundi, Deputy Speaker, said it was a barbaric act of terrorism, which reflected inhumane and callous nature of the perpetrators. They said that a few misguided people were trying to disrupt peace in the country and derail the peaceful democratic process but they will not succeed in their nefarious designs. They said the criminals behind attacks were playing with the lives of innocent people without realizing that they cannot save themselves from the wrath of Allah.

See also

• List of terrorist incidents, 2008

References

1. ^ Anthony, Augustine (2008-08-21). "Blasts near Pakistan arms plant kill 59". Reuters. Retrieved 2008-08-21.
2. ^ "Pakistan bombers hit arms factory". BBC. 2008-08-21. Retrieved 2008-08-21.
3. Perlez, Jane (2008-08-22). "64 in Pakistan Die in Bombing at Arms Plant". The New York Times. Retrieved 2008-08-22. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |work= (help)
4. ^ McDowell, Robin (2008-08-22). "Suicide bombers kill 67 at Pakistani arms factory". Associated Press. Retrieved 2008-08-22.
5. ^ "Pakistan: 100 die in 'Taliban' suicide bombings". CNN International. 2008-08-21. Retrieved 2008-08-21.
6. Perlez, Jane (2008-08-19). "In Musharraf's Wake, U.S. Faces Political Disarray". The New York Times. Retrieved 2008-08-21.
7. Fahmida, Kundi condemn Wah bomb blasts

• Current events from August 2008
• 2008 in Pakistan
• Terrorism in Pakistan
• Terrorist incidents in 2008