At least two people, including a child, were killed and 14 others injured in an improvised explosive device (IED) blast near a police station in Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province on Monday, local media reported.
The explosion occurred near the Miryan police station in Bannu district, close to shops located in front of the station. According to a police statement cited by Dawn, the blast was caused by a time bomb attached to a motorcycle.
Police said civilians in the vicinity bore the brunt of the explosion, while law enforcement personnel remained unharmed. Rescue teams rushed to the scene and transported the injured to nearby hospitals. Several victims are reported to be in critical condition.
Deputy Inspector General Sajjad Khan confirmed that security forces cordoned off the area immediately after the incident and launched a search operation. A heavy deployment of police, including the bomb disposal squad, quick response force and armoured personnel carriers, was sent to the site.
Authorities said the bomb disposal team is conducting a thorough sweep of the area to prevent any further threat, while investigators continue to gather evidence to determine responsibility for the attack.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Faisal Karim Kundi condemned the explosion and expressed grief over the loss of lives. He described those responsible as enemies of humanity and peace in the province.
Opposition leader Ibadullah Khan also denounced the attack, stating that elements hostile to stability were attempting to disrupt the province’s calm. He urged national unity in confronting such threats and called on the government to take swift and effective action.
Bannu district, located in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, has witnessed frequent incidents of violence in recent months. In January, two boys were injured in a separate explosion in the Domel area of Bannu, one of whom later succumbed to his injuries.
Investigations into Monday’s blast are ongoing.
