At least two killed, 17 injured in suicide bombing in KP

At least two people were killed and 17 others injured on Friday in a suicide bombing in Pakistan’s North Waziristan district in the northwestern province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Station House Officer (SHO) of Miranshah Laiq Marjan Wazir told Nukta that a suicide bomber rammed an explosives-laden vehicle near Chamsha Bridge, close to the Miranshah market.

“The blast was so powerful that it was heard from far away. Two civilians were killed and 17 others were injured in the explosion,” he added.

According to police, the injured were shifted to a hospital in Miranshah, where an emergency has been declared. Four of the wounded are reported to be in critical condition.

Police said security forces have cordoned off the area and launched search operations in the surrounding locality. “The amount of explosives used is yet to be determined,” officials added.

The injured have been identified as Irshad, Asmat, Abuzar, Fida, Mohsin, Zarmani, Qismat, Hameeda, Zikra, Tufail, Noor, Inam, Muhammad, Nazir, Ahmed, Kifayat, Ahmed and Naik.

The banned militant outfit Hafiz Gul Bahadur group’s faction, Usood Al Khorasan, claimed responsibility for the attack, saying the bomber belonged to its Al-Hamid suicide unit.

According to security sources, militants linked to what authorities describe as Fitna al-Khawarij carried out the attack in an attempt to spread fear and panic among the tribal population after facing setbacks across the border in Afghanistan.

The attacker targeted a civilian area, which security officials said demonstrated that such elements were “enemies of both Islam and humanity.”

“To take revenge for their humiliating defeat, the terrorists are now targeting innocent civilians,” a source added.

Sohail Afridi, KP Chief Minister, condemned the attack and sought a report from the Police Inspector General over the incident. “Such cowardly acts of terrorism cannot weaken the resolve of the government and the public,” he said.

He also directed the authorities to ensure the best possible medical care for the injured, with all medical staff at District Headquarters Hospital Miranshah and Rescue 1122 Pakistan placed on high alert.