Among those who died were a two-year-old child and a 17-year-old girl. Among the injured were also children aged seven and nine.
Five people, including women and a child, were killed and several others injured in a suicide attack targeting Domel police station in Bannu in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa on Thursday evening. PHOTO: EXPRESS
DERA ISMAIL KHAN:
Five people, including women and a child, were killed and several others injured in a suicide attack targeting Domel police station in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa’s Bannu district on Thursday evening, Bannu Regional Police Officer (RPO) Sajjad Khan said.
The suicide attack near Domel police station was foiled due to timely security measures and professional preparedness of the police, according to District Police Officer (DPO) Yasir Afridi.
According to initial information, the suicide bomber intended to target the Domel police station. However, after failing in his attempt, he targeted a civilian area near the station, resulting in the death of five innocent civilians. The victims included three women, a child and a man, while 13 people were seriously injured.
The injured were immediately transferred to a nearby hospital, where they are receiving medical treatment.
“Five people, including Dr Naqeeb and his wife, were killed in the blast at Domel police station,” police said. The authorities added that “among the victims are three women, a civilian and a child, while four people are injured.” At least one police officer was injured in the explosion.
The attack was reportedly carried out from a nearby direction, with police noting that “the attack was carried out from the old tehsil building” and that “the explosion was carried out using a vehicle loaded with explosives.”
According to the hospital, “among the injured are seven women, children and at least one police officer” and that “among the deceased are a two-year-old child and a 17-year-old girl, while the injured also include children aged seven and nine as well as women.”
Among the victims are members of the same family. According to RPO Sajjad Khan, “four members of the same family were killed in the suicide attack, including Naqeebullah, his wife, son Tufail Subhan and daughter Sadaf.”
Read: SHO among five cops martyred in DI Khan
Following the explosion, security forces intervened on site. The explosion caused significant destruction to nearby buildings. According to police, “two neighboring residential houses were destroyed, leaving several people trapped under the rubble.” Reports also said that “several people were reported injured.”
Authorities said the incident caused panic in the area. “The local population participated in the rescue efforts independently,” while rescue teams were dispatched to the scene, authorities said.
Further damage was reported in the surrounding area, with Sajjad Khan saying: “Two houses near the police station were reduced to rubble in the blast, while doors, windows and glass panes of several houses and shops were shattered.”
Following the incident, police, the bomb disposal unit and other law enforcement agencies arrived at the scene, cordoned off the area and launched a search operation.
Bannu DPO Yasir Afridi took notice of the incident, visited the spot and went to the hospital to inquire about the injured. He called on the relevant authorities to provide the best possible medical care to the injured and to conduct a thorough investigation to bring those responsible to justice.
The DPO said such a cowardly act of terrorism would not weaken the resolve of the police or the public. He added that the Bannu Police remained committed to protecting the lives and properties of citizens and would continue their decisive actions against these elements.
Bannu Police urged citizens to immediately report any suspicious activities to the nearest police station or helpline so that any potential threats can be thwarted in time.
The KP has been battling terrorism since the US ouster from Afghanistan, with terrorists often crossing the border to target police convoys and vehicles, leading to the deaths of several officials and personnel.
Learn more: SHO among seven cops martyred in IED blast in Lakki Marwat
Last month, at least seven policemen, including the in-charge of Shadi Khel police station, were killed in an explosion near a police mobile in Lakki Marwat.
A week earlier, two policemen were killed and 15 people, including five policemen, injured in an explosion in the Rustam Bazaar area of Wana, Lower South Waziristan.
The province has seen a surge in terrorist attacks, accounting for the highest number of incidents in the country. Of the total 5,397 incidents reported last year, KP recorded 3,811, followed by Balochistan with 1,557 incidents. Only 29 incidents were reported in the rest of the country. A total of 2,597 terrorists were killed during the year.
