BANNU: A motorcycle bomb exploded near a police mobile van within the jurisdiction of the cantonment police station, close to the Government Postgraduate College in Bannu, partially damaging the vehicle and reportedly injuring a student.

According to police sources, the mobile van was on routine patrol on Sunday night when an explosive device planted in a motorcycle parked on the roadside went off with a bang, damaging the police vehicle.

All police personnel remained unharmed, while a student was reportedly injured in the explosion. Further details about the student’s condition were not immediately available.

Following the explosion, a heavy contingent of police rushed to the scene, cordoned off the area and launched an investigation to collect evidence.

The latest attack occurred in the same locality, where a head constable, Raqeeb Khan of the District Security Branch, was shot dead by unidentified gunmen near Circular Road in the Muslimabad area on Oct 15.

According to police, the attackers opened fire on him, killing him on the spot.

Meanwhile, three policemen were injured when a quadcopter reportedly dropped explosives on Tower No. 3 of the temporary displaced persons’ camp in the Bakakhel area on Sunday, police sources said.

The sources said that the injured were identified as Ayaz, Ibrahim and Rahimullah, who were shifted to the District Headquarters Hospital, Bannu.

Following the incident, security was tightened in the area, while police launched an investigation into the attack.

Bannu and its adjoining areas have witnessed a series of security-related incidents in recent months, including quadcopter attacks, improvised explosive device blasts and other attacks targeting police and security personnel.

Published in Dawn, November 2nd, 2026