Two police stations and a police post in Bannu district, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, were attacked in a coordinated assault late on Friday night, officials have said.
Unidentified motorcycle-riding militants reportedly threw two hand grenades at the Khojri police post, Express News reported.
No casualties were reported, while the identity and motives of the assailants remain unclear. Police have launched a search operation and are actively investigating the incident.
In response, local residents armed themselves to assist the police and announced that area elders would take an active role in protecting the post.
Simultaneously, militants also targeted the Bakakhel and Ghoriwala police stations, sparking gunfire exchanges between the attackers and security forces.
The simultaneous attacks at three different locations spread panic throughout the district.
Security forces have launched a search operation to track down the assailants, and law enforcement agencies have ramped up security to prevent further attacks.
Local residents have expressed their commitment to cooperating with the police in combating terrorist threats and ensuring peace in the area.
Last week, security forces successfully foiled a major terrorist attack on Bannu Cantonment in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, killing at least six terrorists, according to security sources.
The attempted assault involved suicide bombers from the militant group Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), who drove two explosive-laden vehicles into the perimeter of the cantonment, triggering massive explosions.
Meanwhile, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa’s Inspector General of Police (IGP), Zulfiqar Hameed, confirmed that the suicide bombers involved in recent attacks on Darul Uloom Haqqania in Nowshera and in Bannu have been identified.
Speaking to the media, IGP Hameed stated that investigations into both incidents are ongoing, and CCTV footage from both sites has been secured for analysis. He added that the bombers were identified through forensic analysis of their remains.
In addition to identifying the attackers, Hameed disclosed that authorities had traced the vehicles used in the Bannu attack.
He also revealed that foreign-made weapons were used in the incident, adding that investigations are underway to determine the origin of these weapons and how they entered Pakistan. “We are investigating the origin of the weapons and how they entered the country,” Hameed stated.
The attacks, which left 12 people martyred in Bannu, prompted the government to provide compensation to the victims’ families. Each family of the martyrs received a cheque of one million rupees as financial assistance.
In his address, the IGP also highlighted the security measures being taken to restore peace in Kurram, a region that has seen a rise in terrorist activity.
He confirmed the arrest of over 100 suspects involved in disturbing the peace. “Terrorist elements have started to emerge in the Kurram incidents, and a separate strategy has been devised to address the situation,” Hameed said, expressing hope that peace in the area would be restored soon.
Additionally, the Safe City Project has been approved and is expected to be completed in the coming months to enhance security across the region.
