At least 14 police personnel were martyred and several others injured after a deadly suicide bombing and gun assault targeted a police post in Bannu district of Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, according to police and security officials.
The attack began when terrorists rammed an explosives-laden vehicle into the Fateh Khel police post late Saturday night, triggering a massive blast that destroyed large parts of the checkpoint. Gunmen then opened fire on officers and responding reinforcements, leading to an intense firefight.
Officials said rescue operations continued for hours as teams searched through the rubble for survivors. A newly formed militant group, Ittehad-ul-Mujahideen Pakistan, reportedly claimed responsibility for the attack, though authorities believe it may be linked to the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa officials strongly condemned the attack, describing it as an act of terrorism against Pakistan’s security forces.