Militants bomb girls’ school in NW Pakistan; no injuries
PESHAWAR, Aug 31: Pakistan has experienced a surge in violence and threats to girls’ education, with militants targeting a government girls’ primary school in Lakki Marwat district. The explosion damaged parts of the building but did not cause any injuries or loss of life. Police cordoned off the area and tightened security in nearby areas. In Paharkhel Pakka, armed men allegedly abducted a young man, who was tortured before being dumped in a semi-conscious state. Residents have expressed concern over the rising violence and demanded stronger measures to protect schools and communities. The banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) offshoot groups are known for opposing girls’ education and often attack schools. Between 2015 and 2025, over 450 schools in the province were destroyed in such attacks, forcing students to study in damaged buildings or give up schooling. (PTI)
Fire breaks out at London centre post Ganapati event
LONDON, Aug 31: A Hindu community centre in east London caught fire, causing significant structural damage before it could be brought under control by the London Fire Brigade. The Shree Sorathia Prajapati Community Centre in Ilford was set up for a Ganapati Visarjan event. The cause of the fire is under investigation, and the Metropolitan Police has found no evidence to suggest it was deliberately started. The fire was discovered by neighbourhood officers and alerted the London Fire Brigade. The fire was safely brought under control by 2121 hours, and no injuries were reported. The fire was extinguished by six fire engines and 40 firefighters from various fire stations. The fire was a result of an arson attack on an Indian restaurant in Ilford, which injured five people. The Metropolitan Police arrested a 15-year-old boy and a 54-year-old man on suspicion of arson with intent to endanger life. (PTI)
17 injured in East Texas interstate multi-vehicle crash
LINDALE (US), Aug 31: A multi-vehicle crash Saturday on an East Texas interstate sent 17 injured people to area hospitals and shut down a major interstate for hours. None of the injuries appeared to be life threatening after the crash along Interstate 20 involving two tractor-trailers and six passenger vehicles, Lindale, Texas, Fire Chief Jeremy LaRue said. The crash happened about 4 pm Saturday near Lindale, which is about 90 miles (144 kilometers) east of Dallas. The westbound lanes of Interstate 20 were still shut down more than two hours after the accident while crews cleaned oil and diesel fuel left on the roadway, LaRue said. A message was left Saturday with the Texas Department of Public Safety, which was investigating the cause of the accident. (AP)