Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07ISLAMABAD828
2007-02-20 13:15:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Islamabad
Cable title:
SUICIDE BOMBER DETONATES IN QUETTA COURTROOM: 16
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C O N F I D E N T I A L ISLAMABAD 000828
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/20/2017
TAGS: PTER PK
SUBJECT: SUICIDE BOMBER DETONATES IN QUETTA COURTROOM: 16
KILLED, 40 WOUNDED
REF: ISLAMABAD 68
Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Peter Bodde, Reasons 1.4 (b),(d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L ISLAMABAD 000828
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/20/2017
TAGS: PTER PK
SUBJECT: SUICIDE BOMBER DETONATES IN QUETTA COURTROOM: 16
KILLED, 40 WOUNDED
REF: ISLAMABAD 68
Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Peter Bodde, Reasons 1.4 (b),(d)
1. (SBU) On February 17 at approximately 1100, a suicide
bomber wearing explosives around his chest entered a
courtroom in the Quetta District Court complex and detonated
himself, killing 16 people and wounding 40. Among those
killed was senior civil judge Abdul Wahid Durrani.
2. (U) The bomber has not yet been identified, but
eyewitnesses told reporters that the bomber appeared to be
young -- age 20 or so -- and bearded. On February 18,
Balochistan Inspector General Tariq Khosa told reporters that
police teams have rounded up 36 suspects, at least 22 of whom
were Afghan refugees living in and around Quetta.
3. (C) A Quetta-based media contact told poloff that by
February 19 the number of arrestees had gone up to 80. In
addition to the Afghans, he said, police rounded up "the
usual suspects" known to be active in banned sectarian
extremist organizations, like Lashkar-e-Jhangvi and
Sipah-e-Sahiba, hoping to get some clue as to who was
responsible. Although locals suspect that the Baloch
Liberation Army may be responsible, he said, the bombing has
the police, media, and judiciary stumped because there was no
clear motive and no clear target (other than the notoriously
corrupt judiciary, which may or may not have been the purpose
of the bombing). The contact added that people in Quetta are
now worried about what may be a dangerous new trend, as the
bombing was not clearly attributable to those usually
responsible for terrorist violence in Quetta: sectarian
organizations and Baloch nationalists.
4. (C) Comment: No matter who was responsible for Saturday's
bombing, it is one more signal of the difficult security
environment in Balochistan. Inspector General Khosa is new on
the job, and Interior Minister Sherpao told the Embassy that
Khosa's appointment is "crucial to improving the law and
order situation in Balochistan" (ref A). Before reporting for
duty, Khosa himself told the Charge that he is concerned
about the enormity of the task at hand (protect). Now that he
is in place, Khosa will have to deal with Baloch
nationalists, sectarian extremists, and Taliban insurgents
who also may be hiding among the Afghan refugee population.
Khosa has his work cut out for him, and finding the culprits
responsible for Saturday's bombing will be his first real
test. End Comment.
BODDE
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/20/2017
TAGS: PTER PK
SUBJECT: SUICIDE BOMBER DETONATES IN QUETTA COURTROOM: 16
KILLED, 40 WOUNDED
REF: ISLAMABAD 68
Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Peter Bodde, Reasons 1.4 (b),(d)
1. (SBU) On February 17 at approximately 1100, a suicide
bomber wearing explosives around his chest entered a
courtroom in the Quetta District Court complex and detonated
himself, killing 16 people and wounding 40. Among those
killed was senior civil judge Abdul Wahid Durrani.
2. (U) The bomber has not yet been identified, but
eyewitnesses told reporters that the bomber appeared to be
young -- age 20 or so -- and bearded. On February 18,
Balochistan Inspector General Tariq Khosa told reporters that
police teams have rounded up 36 suspects, at least 22 of whom
were Afghan refugees living in and around Quetta.
3. (C) A Quetta-based media contact told poloff that by
February 19 the number of arrestees had gone up to 80. In
addition to the Afghans, he said, police rounded up "the
usual suspects" known to be active in banned sectarian
extremist organizations, like Lashkar-e-Jhangvi and
Sipah-e-Sahiba, hoping to get some clue as to who was
responsible. Although locals suspect that the Baloch
Liberation Army may be responsible, he said, the bombing has
the police, media, and judiciary stumped because there was no
clear motive and no clear target (other than the notoriously
corrupt judiciary, which may or may not have been the purpose
of the bombing). The contact added that people in Quetta are
now worried about what may be a dangerous new trend, as the
bombing was not clearly attributable to those usually
responsible for terrorist violence in Quetta: sectarian
organizations and Baloch nationalists.
4. (C) Comment: No matter who was responsible for Saturday's
bombing, it is one more signal of the difficult security
environment in Balochistan. Inspector General Khosa is new on
the job, and Interior Minister Sherpao told the Embassy that
Khosa's appointment is "crucial to improving the law and
order situation in Balochistan" (ref A). Before reporting for
duty, Khosa himself told the Charge that he is concerned
about the enormity of the task at hand (protect). Now that he
is in place, Khosa will have to deal with Baloch
nationalists, sectarian extremists, and Taliban insurgents
who also may be hiding among the Afghan refugee population.
Khosa has his work cut out for him, and finding the culprits
responsible for Saturday's bombing will be his first real
test. End Comment.
BODDE