Suspected suicide bomber kills 2, wounds 10 near mosque in northwest Pakistan

At least two people were killed and 10 others were wounded on Friday when a suspected suicide bomber tried to attack a mosque in Pakistan's Lakki Marwat district. The bomber detonated his explosives after a local peace militia opened fire on him near the Kareem Khan Mosque during Friday prayers, police said.

What happened in the Lakki Marwat mosque attack?

A motorcyclist approached the Kareem Khan Mosque in the Kheirokhel Pakka area as worshippers gathered for Friday prayers. Members of a local peace militia guarding the mosque signaled him to stop, and when he refused, they opened fire. The motorcycle exploded, killing the rider instantly along with a passerby and a child who had been playing nearby.

Station House Officer Irfan Khan told Nukta that the militia had been deployed specifically for mosque security. He said the rider's refusal to stop prompted the gunfire that triggered the blast.

Who were the victims of the Lakki Marwat blast?

The blast killed a passerby identified as Asma Gul and a child named Asad Ullah, in addition to the suspected bomber. Ten injured people were taken to a nearby hospital for treatment. Authorities have cordoned off the area and launched a search operation in surrounding localities.

Investigators are also working to identify the suspected attacker and determine how much explosive material was used. No further details on the condition of the injured have been released.

Has anyone claimed responsibility for the Lakki Marwat attack?

No group has so far claimed responsibility for Friday's bombing. However, accounts linked to the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) earlier claimed a separate suicide attack during Friday prayers in the area. That claim said the target was Asjad Mahmood, son of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman.

Asjad Mahmood had reportedly been leading a protest against the targeted killing of party workers in Lakki Marwat. It remains unclear whether this claim relates directly to Friday's mosque attack.

Why does Lakki Marwat remain a target for militant groups?

Besides the TTP, other banned militant groups including Ittehad-ul-Mujahideen Pakistan (IMP) and the Hafiz Gul Bahadur faction remain active in the region. These groups have frequently targeted security forces and government officials in the area. Lakki Marwat sits in southern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, near the former tribal districts bordering Afghanistan, a location that has long made it vulnerable to militancy.

Military operations have reduced large-scale insurgent activity in the district over the years. However, Lakki Marwat continues to witness sporadic bombings and targeted killings, posing persistent security challenges for local authorities.