Explosion rocks Red Cross office in Peshawar

No one was hurt in this early morning explosion at the International Committee of the Red Cross compound in Peshawar, Northwest Pakistan.

An explosion at the office of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in Peshawar at around 4:30am on Saturday damaged four vehicles and parts of the building, but nobody was injured as the office was closed. The office is located in University Town, which used to be a hub for Afghan mujahideen leaders in the 1980's and 1990's. Early in the day, the international aid agency had said that it was suspending all field operations in the North-West Frontier Province (NWFP). However, ICRC spokesman Raza Hamdani told the Daily Times over phone from Islamabad that the ICRC would continue its operations and that a security review is currently underway. "The ICRC is in contact with all the relevant authorities in Pakistan, and is awaiting the outcome of initial investigations into the blast. The organization is carefully assessing security conditions for its future activities." There are conflicting reports from the scene, one saying that a gas cylinder was lobbed into the car park, but Peshawar police chief Abdul Majeed Marwat says that the explosion was triggered by an explosive device planted near a geyser. “He says that it may very well be a part of a series of terrorist attacks occuring around the country. Following the blast at the ICRC compound, the US is advising American citizens to avoid crowded markets and public demonstrations in Peshawar. Saturday's attack was the second attack on an international NGO's office in NWFP this week. “Americans are advised against visiting Peshawar's Old City and the Sadar Bazaar. They are advised to restrict their movements throughout the city, and stay mainly in the University Town area. "The (US) embassy would like to remind American citizens of the need to stay alert, be aware of their surroundings, vary times and routes, reduce travel to the minimum acceptable level, act self-defensively at all times, and avoid all demonstrations and areas where Westerners are known to congregate," said the embassy. "We remind American citizens that threats, protests and demonstrations may occur throughout Pakistan without prior notice or warning." Sounds ominous.