KURRAM: The death toll in the tragic firing incident in the Ochat area of Kurram district has risen to 39, according to the police.
The incident occurred when a convoy of at least 200 passenger vans was passing through the Ochat area of Lower Kurram, said KP government spokesperson Barrister Dr Saif while providing details to the media on Thursday.
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, while strongly condemning the firing incident, told the media that at least 38 people were killed, while several others were injured in the attack on Thursday.
However, local authorities, journalists, and residents of the area fear that the death toll could rise to more than 50. No further updates have been received from the region, as mobile and internet services were suspended after the incident.
The convoy of 200 passenger vans was escorted by the police. According to Dr. Saif, the attackers first targeted the police personnel before opening fire on the convoy from both sides.
The attackers reportedly targeted members of the Shia community, as Kurram Deputy Commissioner Javedullah Mehsud told AFP that the convoy belonged to the same community. “Women and children sought refuge in local houses, and we are currently searching for the attackers in the area.”
He also noted that while the region is notorious for sectarian violence, terrorism could not be ruled out in this case, as civilians were also targeted.
Pictures and videos of the crime scene circulating in WhatsApp groups show bodies covered in blood lying on the ground and vans riddled with bullet holes abandoned on the road.
Kurram district has long faced law and order situation due to sectarian clashes and disputes over land between tribes. The roads leading to the area were closed by authorities for security reasons after the convoy was attacked on October 12. Since then, local residents have been holding peaceful demonstrations against the road closures.
The current attack has been widely condemned, including by President Asif Zardari, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, and Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur, in addition to condemning the incident, announced financial assistance for the victims’ families and vowed that those responsible for the attack would not be spared.