At least seven people were killed and several others injured after two successive roadside bomb blasts struck Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province on Saturday. The first explosion targeted a passenger van in Bannu district, while the second occurred as rescue teams and local residents rushed to assist the victims.
International Desk: Pakistan’s troubled Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province witnessed another major security breach on Saturday when twin roadside explosions ripped through the Marka Bera area of Bannu district, killing at least seven people and injuring several others.
According to police, the first blast was triggered by an improvised explosive device (IED) planted along a roadside. A passenger van travelling from Hathi Khel village to Bannu city was caught in the explosion, which killed five occupants instantly and left others injured.
Minutes later, a second explosion occurred at the same location as local residents and emergency responders were carrying out rescue operations. The second blast claimed two additional lives, damaged another vehicle and injured several more people. The wounded were shifted to a nearby hospital, where some are reported to be undergoing treatment.
No terrorist or militant outfit has claimed responsibility for the attack so far. However, security agencies believe the blasts were part of a coordinated assault and have launched a full-scale investigation. Security forces swiftly sealed off the area, while forensic experts began collecting evidence from the blast site.
Senior officials of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government strongly condemned the incident and directed the police to submit a comprehensive report. The provincial administration has ordered a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding the attacks and assured the families of the victims of all possible assistance.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, particularly the districts of Bannu, North Waziristan and adjoining regions, has remained vulnerable to militant violence in recent years. Persistent cross-border infiltration and recurring extremist attacks continue to pose significant challenges to Pakistan’s security and law enforcement agencies, despite repeated counter-terrorism operations.
