BANNU, Pakistan: A suicide attack targeting Domel Police Station in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s (KP) Bannu district claimed the lives of at least five civilians, including three women and a child, while 13 others were injured, including one policeman, security officials confirmed on Friday.
According to initial reports, the attacker detonated explosives near civilians gathered outside the police station after security measures thwarted a direct assault on the facility. The powerful blast caused extensive damage to nearby structures, including residential buildings, and triggered panic in the surrounding area.
Rescue teams and local residents rushed to the scene, launching immediate efforts to clear debris and assist the injured. The wounded were transported to nearby hospitals, where some remain in critical condition. Emergency services faced additional challenges due to ongoing rainfall, which slowed relief operations.
Officials stated that the attack was carried out by terrorists associated with “Fitna al-Khawarij”, a term officially used to describe the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) terrorist group. Security forces swiftly cordoned off the area and initiated search and clearance operations to ensure no further threats remained.
Eyewitness accounts described a loud explosion heard across several kilometres, followed by scenes of destruction, with parts of the police station and adjacent buildings reduced to rubble. In response, mosque announcements called for blood donations, prompting a strong community response.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the attack, expressing deep sorrow over the loss of innocent lives and reiterating the government’s commitment to eliminating terrorism from the country.
The incident comes amid a broader surge in terrorist violence across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Security forces have recently intensified counter-terrorism operations in the region. According to the military’s media wing, dozens of terrorists have been killed in intelligence-based operations over the past few days in Bannu, Khyber and North Waziristan.
Bannu has witnessed repeated incidents of violence in recent months, with both civilians and law enforcement personnel targeted. Authorities maintain that operations under the National Action Plan will continue until terrorist networks are dismantled.
