World Vision Pakistan
World Vision Pakistan ; Islamabad, Pakistan (AHN) - Gunmen in Pakistan detonated a bomb and attacked the offices of U.S.-based Christian charity World Vision. The Wednesday attack killed six and forced the charity to suspend its operations in Pakistan indefinitely.
The terror cell’s attack occurred in Oghi town, Mansehra district, 40 miles north of the capital Islamabad. World Vision employees working in Pakistan’s North West Frontier Province were in the region to support poor women and their children.
According to witnesses, more than 15 gunmen opened fire using automatic weapons and hand grenades. Officials say six local staff members were killed and seven others were seriously injured. All of the victims were Pakistani.
The agency said on its website that one of its staff members is still missing following the “senseless” attack.
World Vision isn’t the first aid agency to be targeted by militants. In the past the United Nations was attacked by Taliban militants. Pakistani officials say these attacks are in response to authorities carrying out military operations against terrorists in the country’s northwest tribal region bordering Afghanistan.
World Vision had been in the area providing relief since the 2005 Kashmir earthquake that killed more than 80,000 people. They have also supported people with aid who have fled the fighting in the Swat Valley.
