BANNU, Pakistan: At least 15 police personnel were killed and three others injured after terrorists rammed an explosives-laden vehicle into a police checkpoint in Pakistan’s northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province on Saturday night, police officials said.
The terrorist attack targeted the Fateh Khel police post in Bannu district.
According to Bannu Regional Police Officer (RPO) Sajjad Khan, 18 police personnel were present at the checkpoint when the attack occurred.
“The powerful explosion caused severe destruction at the checkpost, trapping several personnel under the debris,” RPO Sajjad Khan told reporters.
Police said terrorists first rammed a vehicle packed with explosives into the post, triggering a massive blast that completely destroyed the structure and damaged nearby buildings.
Following the explosion, armed terrorists launched an assault on the checkpoint from multiple directions, police said.
“During the assault, the terrorists used quadcopters along with heavy weaponry,” a senior administrative official in Bannu told AFP on condition of anonymity.
An armoured vehicle stationed at the post was also destroyed in the attack.
Emergency services declared an emergency at local hospitals after the bombing as rescue teams worked through the night to recover bodies and pull injured personnel from the rubble.
Rescue 1122 said its teams concluded rescue operations on Sunday morning.
“The rescue operation has been completed. Fifteen bodies and three injured were recovered from the debris,” Rescue 1122 said in a statement.
Police identified the martyred officers as Rehmat Ayaz, Sanaullah, Niaz Ali, Habib, Saadullah Jan, Kamran, Khan Sikandar, Noorullah, another officer named Kamran, Abid Jani, Imran, Kaleemullah, Sadiqullah, Munir Alam Khan, Rahatullah Khan and Farooq.
The injured personnel were identified as Mujrim Feroz, Hayatullah and Qadarullah.
The police have launched a search operation in the area under the supervision of RPO Sajjad Khan, while security forces cordoned off the site and established additional checkpoints across the city.
Local residents also assisted law enforcement personnel following the terrorist attack.
Pakistan’s Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi condemned the attack and paid tribute to the slain officers.
“These courageous sons of the soil sacrificed their lives while protecting the people of Pakistan and defending peace. Their bravery, commitment and sacrifice will never be forgotten,” Naqvi wrote on X.
Deeply saddened by the tragic incident in Bannu in which 15 brave KPK policemen embraced shahadat in the line of duty.
These courageous sons of the soil sacrificed their lives while protecting the people of Pakistan and defending peace. Their bravery, commitment and sacrifice…
— Mohsin Naqvi (@MohsinnaqviC42) May 10, 2026
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif telephoned Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi on Sunday and condemned the terrorist attack, according to an official statement.
Prime Minister Sharif expressed condolences to the families of those killed and reaffirmed the federal government’s commitment to supporting provincial authorities in combating militancy.
“We will provide every possible assistance to the provincial government in the fight against terrorism,” the prime minister said.
President Asif Ali Zardari also condemned the attack and directed federal and provincial authorities to ensure support for the injured and affected families.
In a statement, Zardari said Pakistan would continue efforts to defeat terrorist groups and their “facilitators and sponsors”.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has witnessed a sharp rise in terrorist violence since the Afghan Taliban returned to power in neighbouring Afghanistan in 2021.
Pakistan has repeatedly asked the Afghan Taliban regime to take verifiable action against terrorist sanctuaries in Afghanistan and avoid the use of Afghan soil for terrorism in Pakistan.
