PESHAWAR, Pakistan – A suicide car bombing targeted a police station in the Domel tehsil of Bannu district in northwest Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province late Thursday, killing five people and injuring 13 others, authorities reported Friday.
The Chenab Times has learned that the bomber rammed an explosives-laden vehicle into the rear of the police station, igniting a powerful explosion that was reportedly heard miles away and caused widespread panic. Gunfire was heard immediately following the blast, further escalating tension in the vicinity.
Among the five fatalities were four members of the same family, including a husband, wife, daughter, and son. At least four police personnel were among the 13 individuals who sustained injuries in the attack. Rescue and emergency response operations were underway as officials assessed the damage, which also affected several nearby houses.
No group has immediately claimed responsibility for the incident. However, the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) issued a statement denying any involvement. TTP spokesperson Muhammad Khorasani alleged that the attack was orchestrated by the “establishment and state institutions” to foster anti-militant sentiment among residents and create societal divisions. He urged the public to remain vigilant against what he described as “deceptive tactics.”
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the attack and expressed his condolences for the loss of life, according to a statement from his office. Preliminary investigations suggest the police station was the intended target of the bombing. There has been no immediate official response from government or military officials concerning the TTP’s allegations.
The Chenab Times News Desk