Footage showing damage of the terror attack in Charsadda.

Security forces killed three suicide attackers who attempted to wreak havoc at a local court in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa's Charsadda district, officials said Tuesday.

DSP Charsadda Fayaz Khan said five civilians have been killed in the attack, which the proscribed Jamaat-ul-Ahraar (JuA) claimed.

Director General Inter-Services Public Relations, Major General Asif Ghafoor tweeted, "Chief of Army Staff lauds security forces' response to Charsada Blast. First tier Police response has saved many lives. Shares grief on loss of lives."

Provincial government sources said one lawyer was among those killed, while 15 others were injured.

The damage of the blast is seen.— DawnNews
The damage of the blast is seen.— DawnNews

Initial findings

The three suicide bombers approached the court in the guise of petitioners, suggested an initial assessment report provided by local police to the provincial Counter Terrorism Department.

The report revealed that the first attacker had hurled a hand grenade when he was intercepted by security personnel.

The bomber was killed as security personnel opened fire at the gate of the compound, whereas the second was killed as he entered the court. The third bomber was killed when he detonated his explosives.

In total, the three attackers hurled six grenades. All three bombers were carrying 9mm pistols.

Four judges and around 40 lawyers were present in the premises of the court when bombers targeted the compound.

Eyewitnesses said the remains of the bombers were lying on the roadside along with their explosives and ammunition.

Town resident Mohammad Shahbaz told Reuters he was inside the judicial complex when the suicide bombers stormed it.

“I escaped towards the canteen and climbed the wall to save my life. But there were many people dead and injured,” he said.

Read: Army chief Bajwa vows revenge for Sehwan attacks: 'No more restraint'

Charsadda is approximately 30km away from Peshawar.
Charsadda is approximately 30km away from Peshawar.

Up to 10 ambulances were dispatched to Charsadda from Peshawar, where the Lady Reading Hospital had been put on high alert.

Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan, whose party rules in KP, lauded the quick action taken by the police, which averted a higher death toll.

The attack came amid heightened security across KP and the country after a recent wave of terror.

Charsadda is at a nearly 40-minute drive from KP’s provincial capital Peshawar, and has been a target of terror attacks for nearly a decade.

A suicide bomber had struck a local court in Charsadda's Shabqadar area last year in March, killing 17 people. That attack too was claimed by Jamaat-ul-Ahraar.

In January 2016, militants had attacked the Bacha Khan University in Charsadda and shot dead 21 people.

Also read: Fear and panic in Peshawar amid high alert

Resurgence in terror attacks

Pakistan is experiencing a fresh resurgence in terror attacks.

In the last 10 days, over 100 people have killed in terror attacks in Sindh, Balochistan, KP, Fata and Punjab.

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