CHARSADDA, May 13: At least 70 paramilitary recruits and 17 civilians were killed and about 150 others injured in a twin suicide attack on the Frontier Constabulary’s headquarters in Shabqadar, about 30km from Peshawar, on Friday.

It was the highest number of law-enforcement personnel killed in a terrorist attack in the country.

A spokesman for the banned Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan in North Waziristan claimed responsibility for the attack. He said in a phone call to the Dawn correspondent in Miramshah that the attack had been carried out to avenge the killing of Al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden in Abbottabad.

However, security officials believe that the attack was the handiwork of Omar Khalid, a militant commander in the adjoining Mohmand tribal region, against whom a military operation has been launched.

Omar Khalid is not directly affiliated with the TTP which had in fact distanced itself from the independent-minded militant commander. His group has not issued any statement so far.

“Instead of Osama revenge it appears to be a retaliation for the military operation,” a security official said.

FC Deputy Commandant Ghaniur Rehman said two suicide bombers blew themselves up with a span of five minutes near the main gate of the British-era FC Fort early in the morning when the FC youths going home after completing their training were loading their luggage on buses. He said 70 personnel were killed and 65 injured.

He said the bodies had been identified and sent to their native areas after funeral prayers held at the FC headquarters.

“There are two occasions in our life to celebrate: wedding and going home on vacation at the end of the training,” said Mohammad Sardar, in his mid-20s, lying in bed in the Lady Reading Hospital in Peshawar with a head injury. “So we were all happy, celebrating the occasion, carrying our luggage on our heads, thinking of home, when the first explosion took place, followed by the second,” he said.

FC Commandant Akbar Khan Hoti said the first bomber who had come on a donkey cart and blew himself up in the middle of the road in front of the gate, killing about 10 personnel.

A few minutes later, another bomber on a motorbike went near the gate where recruits were carrying out rescue work and detonated the explosives wrapped on his body.

Police said 17 civilians were killed and dozens of others injured because the fort is in the heart of the Shabqadar bazaar.

Eleven vans were destroyed and 16 damaged. About 50 shops were also damaged.

Residents said the blast was followed by intense firing by security personnel, adding to panic in the area.

“The place was littered with shards of glass, blood and flesh and the injured were crying for help,” said a survivor.

A farewell function featuring skits and music was held at the FC ground on Thursday for the recruits who had completed training. The function continued till late night. Most of the recruits were from remote areas.

Some of the injured youths told Dawn that about 800 personnel who had completed their training on May 5 were going home on 10-day leave. They were told to rejoin their companies after the vacation.