At least nine killed, 35 injured in roadside bomb blast in Lakki Marwat

At least nine people, including two police officers, were killed and 35 others injured after a roadside bomb exploded in Lakki Marwat district in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Tuesday morning.

The blast struck Sarai Naurang Bazaar and initial findings suggested it may have been triggered by an IED planted in a three-wheeler vehicle. Fears remain that the death toll could rise.

What caused the Lakki Marwat bomb blast?

The explosion in Sarai Naurang Bazaar is believed to have been caused by an improvised explosive device planted in a three-wheeler, locally known as a Zarang or loader.

Rescue 1122 Media Coordinator Shadab Ahmed Khan said the blast caused heavy casualties. The exact nature of the explosion and the quantity of explosives used are still being determined by police.

How many people were killed and injured in the Sarai Naurang blast?

Medical Superintendent Dr Ishaq Khan at Tehsil Headquarters Hospital in Sarai Naurang confirmed to Nukta that at least nine bodies had been received, while 35 injured people were undergoing treatment.

The deceased included two traffic police wardens and one woman. Identification of several victims was still underway due to the severity of their injuries.

The hospital was placed under emergency and leave for all staff cancelled, with Dr Khan saying most of the injured were in critical condition. Rescue teams continued relief activities and were transferring the injured to hospital. "There are fears the death toll could rise," Rescue 1122 coordinator Khan said.

What is the response from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa authorities?

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi condemned the attack and sought a detailed report from the provincial inspector general of police. He directed authorities to ensure the best possible medical care for the injured.

Governor Faisal Karim Kundi also denounced the blast, describing the rise in militancy in the province's southern districts as "extremely alarming."

Kundi said those responsible for targeting civilians deserved "no leniency," adding that militants were enemies of peace and humanity.

"The sacrifices made by the people of the province, police, and security forces in the fight against terrorism will not go in vain," he said. Police have cordoned off the area and launched a search operation in surrounding localities to trace those responsible.

Which militant groups are active in Lakki Marwat?

No group has claimed responsibility for the Lakki Marwat attack. Banned outfits including the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, Ittehad-ul-Mujahideen Pakistan and the Hafiz Gul Bahadur group remain active in parts of the region, frequently targeting security forces and government personnel.

Lakki Marwat is located in southern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa near the former tribal belt along the Afghan border, an area long affected by militancy due to its strategic location.

Security operations over the years have reduced large-scale militant activity, but sporadic bombings and targeted killings continue to challenge authorities. The attack is the latest in a pattern of violence that has undermined stability across the region. Tuesday's blast follows a suicide attack two days earlier that killed 15 police officers in Bannu, also in southern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.