Peshawar, March: On Tuesday, two explosive-laden vehicles crashed into the boundary wall of Bannu Cantonment, resulting in the deaths of at least nine individuals and injuring 16 others. Military personnel successfully neutralized a minimum of six terrorists during the incident.
The attack occurred at approximately sunset near Bannu, located around 200 kilometers southwest of Peshawar in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, according to police reports.
The lesser-known group Jaish Al Fursan, linked to Hafiz Gul Bahadur, claimed responsibility for the assault, which is among various factions connected to Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan.
Reports indicate that five victims were discovered from nearby civilian structures, while four fatalities were recovered from the wreckage of a mosque adjacent to the cantonment’s breached wall, according to hospital authorities.
The injured individuals were transported to nearby medical facilities for treatment.
After the explosions, the wall of the cantonment was compromised, allowing at least five or six attackers to attempt an incursion, but they were ultimately neutralized by the police.
Sources stated that military officials have cordoned off main access routes to the cantonment, restricting entry to the blast zone, while security forces effectively eliminated six terrorists who had entered the area following the bombings.
Meanwhile, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur condemned the attack and requested a detailed report on the incident. He expressed his sorrow over the lost lives and extended condolences to the victims’ families, stating, “Incidents like this during the holy month of Ramadan are profoundly tragic and unacceptable.” (Agencies)
