ISLAMABAD: A powerful explosion occurred near the main gate of Miryan Police Station in Bannu district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province on Monday morning, killing at least two civilians, including a child, and wounding 12 others, police and rescue officials confirmed.
The blast, which took place around 10 a.m., was caused by an improvised explosive device planted on a motorcycle parked close to shops in front of the police facility. Authorities described it as a remote-controlled or timed detonation targeting the station.
Protective sandbags placed around the entrance absorbed much of the impact, shielding police officers and preventing damage to the building itself. A senior police official noted that without these barriers, the casualties could have been far higher among law enforcement personnel.
Civilian casualties occurred outside the perimeter, where people were passing by or present at nearby commercial areas. Rescue 1122 teams promptly arrived at the scene, shifting the injured to the District Headquarters Hospital in Bannu, with some reported in critical condition.
Initial investigations point to militants planting the device as part of ongoing security challenges in the region. No group has claimed responsibility yet, but the method aligns with tactics used by banned outfits in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Bannu district has witnessed a surge in attacks on security installations in recent years. In 2025 alone, police faced 134 terrorist incidents in the area, resulting in 27 officers martyred and 79 injured, according to Bannu DIG Sajjad Khan.
Retaliatory operations by security forces during that period eliminated 53 terrorists and injured 163 others. The district, bordering volatile regions, remains a hotspot for such violence, often linked to cross-border elements.
Miryan Police Station has been repeatedly targeted in the past, including multiple drone attacks using quadcopters to drop explosives in 2025. These incidents highlight evolving militant strategies amid heightened operations against groups like the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan.
Police cordoned off the area immediately after the blast to collect forensic evidence and launch a search for suspects. Additional forces were deployed to maintain order and prevent follow-up incidents.
The incident underscores persistent threats to law enforcement in northwestern Pakistan. Authorities have intensified intelligence-based operations to curb such attacks and ensure public safety.
Hospital sources indicated that the injured, mostly civilians, include women and children caught in the vicinity. Community leaders called for enhanced security measures around public and sensitive sites.
This latest blast adds to the tally of civilian suffering in the region’s security landscape, where protective infrastructure has proven vital in limiting losses among uniformed personnel.
Investigations continue to determine the exact nature of the explosive and potential perpetrators, with officials vowing a thorough probe.