15 police personnel martyred in Bannu suicide attack
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BANNU: At least 15 police personnel were martyred on Saturday night after a suicide attack on the Fateh Khel police post in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Bannu district.
The terrorists launched their attack on the post by ramming a vehicle laden with explosives.
According to Regional Police Officer Bannu Sajjad Khan, a total of 18 police personnel were present at the post at the time of the attack, of whom 15 were martyred and three sustained injuries.
Police said that following the explosion, terrorists opened heavy fire and attacked the post from multiple directions. Multiple blasts were heard in the area, causing fear and panic among local residents.
“During the assault, the militants used quadcopters along with heavy weaponry,” a senior administrative official in Bannu told AFP on condition of anonymity.
Sources said that communication with the Fateh Khel police post was lost briefly after the attack.
The powerful blast completely destroyed the post. An armoured vehicle stationed at the post was also destroyed in the attack.
Nearby buildings also suffered severe damage from the blast’s intensity. Following the attack, an emergency was declared in local hospitals.
The Bannu police launched an operation, led by RPO Sajjad, after the attack, and the area was cordoned off by security forces.
Police also tightened security across the city and set up additional checkpoints. Local residents also came out in support of law enforcement personnel.
Rescue 1122 teams concluded the rescue operation at the site of the incident on Sunday morning.
“The rescue operation has been completed. Fifteen bodies and three injured were recovered from the debris,” said Rescue 1122.
Bannu district has been the scene of repeated security incidents in recent months, with both civilians and local security forces coming under attack amid a broader surge in militant violence.
Violence in Bannu has included attacks on police and jirga members, prompting targeted operations by police and security forces in various localities to disrupt militant networks.
Additional input from AFP.
