2010 bloodiest year for Pakistan since 2001: Report

ISLAMABAD: A total of 1,224 people were killed and 2,157 more injured in 52 suicide attacks across Pakistan since January, making 2010 one of the bloodiest years since the turn of the century.

Though the total number of suicide bombings decreased 35 per cent this year as against the past year, 2010 was the bloodiest year since 2001 in terms of the number of the people killed in such attacks, The News daily reported today.

Pakistan witnessed 80 suicide attacks in 2009 that killed 1,217 people and injured 2,305 others.

On an average, suicide bombers killed 102 persons a month this year, compared to last year's average of 101 killings a month.

The bombers, on an average, killed more than 23 Pakistanis every week and over three persons every day in 2010.

Over four suicide attacks were carried out every month this year, compared to six assaults every month in 2009.

Civilian casualties accounted for 49 per cent of the total deaths caused by suicide bombings this year.

The remainder were personnel from security forces and law enforcement agencies, including the police, military, Frontier Constabulary, Pakistan Rangers, Inter-Services Intelligence and Khasadar militia.

Twelve per cent of casualties were Shias, eight per cent were Ahmedis and six per cent were Barelvi Muslims.

The largest number of deaths in suicide attacks - 416 - was reported in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province.