Three policemen killed as militants launch two attacks in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
Militants killed three police officers in Lower Dir and targeted a Bannu police station in twin attacks on Wednesday in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Kamran Ali
Correspondent Nukta
Kamran Ali, a seasoned journalist from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan, has a decade of experience covering terrorism, human rights, politics, economy, climate change, culture, and sports. With an MS in Media Studies, he has worked across print, radio, TV, and digital media, producing investigative reports and co-hosting shows that highlight critical issues.
Nukta/File
At least three police officers were killed and multiple others injured in two separate militant attacks in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Wednesday. The deadliest struck Lower Dir district, while a suspected suicide attack targeted a police station in Bannu.
What happened in the Lower Dir attack?
Police teams conducting a search-and-strike operation near Khal Police Station came under heavy fire from militants in the Rabat area. Three officers were killed and 18 others injured during the exchange, and militants set a police vehicle ablaze, according to senior police officer Aqal Amin Khan. The firefight lasted several hours before police recovered the bodies and evacuated the wounded to Timergara's District Headquarters Hospital.
Police identified two of the slain officers as Riaz and Muheebullah, while the identity of the third has yet to be confirmed. Khan said a search operation was underway to track down the militants responsible.
What happened in the Bannu attack?
In a separate, still-developing incident, militants allegedly attempted to ram an explosives-laden vehicle into the Miryan police station, triggering a powerful explosion. Noman Khitab, spokesperson for Khalifa Gul Nawaz Teaching Hospital, said six injured people, including two police officers and four civilians, were brought in as staff were placed on high alert.
Police said the blast was heard from a considerable distance and damaged both the police station and nearby homes. A heavy exchange of fire continued between militants and security forces after the explosion, causing panic among local residents. District Police Officer Muhammad Furqan Bilal confirmed the attack to Nukta, saying additional forces and the police Peace Committee had reached the site to conduct a clearance operation.
Who claimed responsibility for the attacks?
The Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan claimed responsibility for the Lower Dir attack, while Ittehad-ul-Mujahideen Pakistan said it carried out the Bannu attack and released what it described as details of the alleged suicide bomber. The situation in Bannu remained fluid, with officials saying the operation was ongoing.
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