Taliban claims attacks were revenge for bin Laden killing
The Pakistani Taliban have claimed responsibility for two suicide bomb attacks on a paramilitary academy in northwest Pakistan on Friday that killed 80 people and wounded at least 120. The attacks took place at a training centre for the Frontier Constabulary in the city of Shabqadar, in the district of Charsadda, as newly trained cadets were preparing to go on leave after completing their course. “The first suicide bomber came on a motorcycle and detonated his vest among the Frontier Constabulary men,” said Charsadda district police chief Nisar Khan Marwat. “When the other [Frontier Constabulary] people came to the rescue to help their colleagues, the second bomber came on another motorcycle and blew himself up.” The Pakistani Taliban have claimed that the bombings were revenge attacks for the killing of Osama bin Laden by U.S. Navy SEALs on May 1. “It’s the first revenge for the martyrdom of…bin Laden. There will be more,” said Taliban spokesman Ehsanullah Ehsan told Reuters.