ISLAMABAD: One security guard was killed and 14 other people were injured when a suicide bomber blew himself up at gate of Naval Complex here in Sector E-8 of the capital Wednesday afternoon.

A suicide bomber, stated to be 17-18 years, exploded himself when a brave Naval police personnel intercepted him at the outer security checkpost at around 1.35 p.m., Chief Commissioner Islamabad Fazeel Asghar informed media on the site of the blast.

The suspect was standing at some distance from the main gate of the Naval Complex, when Naval Police personnel inquired about his identity and asked him for body search. The attacker removed his coat and exploded himself, also killing Police personnel Muhammad Ashraf, Asghar said.

Navy spokesperson Captain Mobeen Bajwa told media that 11 injured people, including five Pakistan Navy personnel, were under treatment at PNS Hafeez. One among the injured is in critical condition, he said.

Bajwa said the attacker was intercepted just away from the first security layer and in the outer cordon. The Police are investigating the incident and the footage from the CCTV camera would be helpful in probe. 

Earlier, an eyewitness Hasseb said that a grey color Cultus car dropped the attacker near the complex and tried to flee the scene hurriedly. But, in a hurry the driver turned the vehicle to wrong side where it hit my blue vehicle as I was waiting for green signal, said the eye-witness.

The Navy Spokesman said of this claim by the eyewitness that the Police was probing the matter and nothing could be termed as ultimate report at this stage. However, their initial report indicated that the grey car had actually moved to the wrong side due to the impact of the blast.

Blood stains and bullet marks were also seen on the damaged Cultus car present at the scene. Window panes of the nearby houses were broken after the blast and thick smoke was seen on the spot.

At the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS), three injured of the blast including a child were brought to the medical complex. Spokesman of PIMS, Dr Waseem Khawaja said that one among them was Abid, aging 33 years, who sustained injury in his leg while six-year old Jonathan suffered head injuries and was being operated after CT-Scan.

Similarly, a lady Rifat, 40, received arm injuries, he added.

Federal Interior Minister A. Rehman Malik Wednesday strongly condemned the suicide blast in Sector E-8 of the Federal Capital in which one Naval Police personnel was killed.

Interior Minister directed the Inspector General of Police Islamabad to submit a report regarding the incident and directed him to further beef up security in the capital. 

President, PM condemn

President Asif Ali Zardari on Wednesday strongly condemned the suicide attack outside Naval Complex.

President Zardari said the terrorists involved in such heinous crime would not be spared.

He expressed deep grief and sorrow over the killing of Naval Constable who intercepted the suicide bomber at main gate.

He said such incidents would not deter the government’s resolve to fight terrorism and extremism from the country.

He prayed for the departed soul to rest in peace and for early recovery of the injured.

And, Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani on Wednesday strongly condemned the suicide attack at the main gate of Naval Complex here.

The Prime Minister who is in Germany on an official visit deplored the killing of naval constable in the incident and said the government would continue its resolve to eradicate terrorism and extremism from the country.

Gilani prayed for early recovery of the injured. Gilani prayed for early recovery of the injured.