6 police officers killed in attack on training center in Northwest Pakistan

At least six police officers were killed and 13 others wounded when militants attacked a police training center in Pakistan’s northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, officials said Saturday.

All five attackers were killed during a security operation after they stormed the facility late Friday in Dera Ismail Khan district, according to police.

District Police Officer Sajjad Ahmed Sahibzada told Nukta that the assault began with a powerful explosion followed by an intense exchange of fire.

“After the incident, police and security forces rushed to the scene and launched a clearance operation. The exchange of heavy fire continued for several hours,” he said.

Sahibzada confirmed the operation had concluded and that all attackers were killed. “During the operation, 13 police personnel were injured and seven lost their lives,” police said, later revising the death toll to six.

Authorities said the militants rammed an explosives-laden vehicle into the main gate of the training center before entering the premises.

Around 200 people — including trainers and staff — were inside the compound at the time but were safely evacuated, officials said.

Security forces recovered suicide vests and explosives from the scene.

Police identified the slain officers with only their first names as Mudasir, Jalal, Danial, Asmat, Farman, and Javed.

The injured, also identified with their first names only, include Naseer, Shoaib, Ijaz, Yasir, Mukhtiar, Mudasir, Abdullah, Khan Allah, Saeed, Saddam, Saleem, Hazrat Ali, and Yaqoob.

The Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, or TTP, and a newly emerged group called the Tahafuz Emirate Islami Force (TIF) claimed responsibility for the attack. Security sources said the new outfit is believed to be an internal faction operating within the TTP.

The assault comes amid renewed turbulence in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where Pakistani security forces have faced a surge in militant attacks and frequent clashes with the TTP along the Afghan border.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Faisal Karim Kundi condemned the assault, praising the police and security forces for their response. “Their sacrifices in the fight against terrorism will never be forgotten,” he said.