A blast targeting a police van in the Dera Ismail Khan district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province in Pakistan, has resulted in the deaths of at least five people, with over 20 others sustaining injuries, Reuters quoted rescue official Aizaz Mehmood as saying. The blast occurred in Tank Adda in the city near a police van, Geo TV reported. Some of the injured individuals remain in critical condition. Gunshots were reported after the explosion.
Preliminary media reports suggest that the explosive device was planted on a motorbike. However, it is not immediately clear whether this incident was the result of a suicide attack or a bomb planted nearby.
Law enforcement officials and the KP bomb disposal unit quickly arrived at the site following the explosion to assess the situation and respond accordingly.
The city of Dera Ismail Khan is located on the border of lawless tribal districts bordering Afghanistan, which have historically been areas of concern due to the presence of domestic and foreign Islamist militants.
Recent reports from Dawn have indicated an increase in terrorist activities in KP and Balochistan in recent months, particularly after the Tehrik-e Taliban Pakistan (TTP) ended its ceasefire with the government in November of the previous year.
Just last month, both KP and Balochistan provinces witnessed two separate blasts. These incidents occurred on the day of Eid Miladun Nabi, the birth anniversary of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). In KP’s Hangu, five people were killed, and 12 others were injured during a blast that took place during a Friday sermon. Reports from Hangu suggested that two suicide bombers were involved in the attack, with one targeting the gate of a police station and the other detonating explosives inside a mosque.
Furthermore, a suicide blast in Balochistan’s Mastung district led to the deaths of at least 35 people, including a police officer. Over 45 individuals were injured in this attack, as reported.
(With inputs from agencies)