SOUTH WAZIRISTAN: A civilian was martyred and 15 others were injured when a suicide bomber blew up an explosives-laden vehicle near an army post in the Birmal tehsil of Lower South Waziristan district on Monday evening.

Police officials said all the injured were immediately shifted to the District Headquarters Hospital, Wana.

The explosion damaged a nearby seminary, a petrol pump and shops in Azam Warsak Bazaar and caused roofs of several houses to collapse.

Medical superintendent Dr Jan Mohammad said that an emergency had been declared in the hospital and all the injured were being provided medical treatment.

Residents told Dawn that the suicide blast was so powerful that people rushed out of their homes in fear.

In a statement, the security forces said that targeting the suicide attacker and the vehicle at some distance from the post helped prevent major loss of life, while the attacker was killed on the spot.

The forces have cordoned off the area and launched a search operation.

It is pertinent to mention here that there has been a significant increase in incidents of terrorism in various areas of Birmal over the past year. Incidents of targeted killing, kidnapping for ransom, bomb explosions, and attacks on police and security forces’ checkposts have intensified, causing serious concern among residents.

Residents of Lower South Waziristan expressed deep sorrow and grief over the tragic incident and condemned it.

Published in Dawn, May 5th, 2026