Twin terror attacks rock KP, 2 policemen martyred

In Bannu, militants launched a major assault on the Miryan Police Station by detonating an explosives-filled vehicle near the premises before

PESHAWAR: Two police personnel were martyred and dozens of others injured after separate terrorist attacks targeted security forces in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa’s Bannu and Lower Dir districts on Wednesday, prompting large-scale search operations and heightened security across the affected areas.

In Bannu, militants launched a major assault on the Miryan Police Station by detonating an explosives-filled vehicle near the premises before opening fire on security personnel. The attack triggered an intense gun battle that continued for several hours.

District Police Officer Captain (retd) Muhammad Furqan Bilal said the attackers attempted to breach the police station with the explosive-laden vehicle, causing a powerful blast before engaging officers in a firefight. The explosion injured six policemen and four civilians, all of whom were shifted to the District Headquarters Hospital, where emergency medical teams were placed on high alert.

Security forces quickly cordoned off the area, while additional police and law enforcement personnel launched search and clearance operations to track down the attackers. Officials said the militants had also destroyed a damaged bridge leading to the police station in an apparent attempt to delay rescue teams and reinforcements.

The blast damaged parts of the police station and nearby residential buildings, while local residents assisted rescue workers in evacuating the injured from the scene. A banned militant group later claimed responsibility for the attack, though authorities had not officially verified the claim.

In a separate incident in Lower Dir, two police personnel embraced martyrdom and 16 others were injured during a fierce exchange of fire with terrorists in the mountainous Haidaray Top area near the Laram Valley.

According to security sources, police were conducting an intelligence-based operation after receiving reports of militant activity when they came under heavy gunfire. The clash continued for several hours before subsiding, and the injured officers were transported to the District Headquarters Hospital in Timergara for treatment.

During the attack, militants also set three police vehicles ablaze in the rugged terrain, where access for security forces was already limited. Authorities have not confirmed whether any militants were killed or injured during the operation.

Search and clearance operations remained underway in both districts as security forces continued efforts to eliminate the attackers and restore normalcy. Security across the province has been further tightened following the twin attacks.