A pair of suicide bombers drove two explosive-laden vehicles into a security facility in northwestern Pakistan on Tuesday, killing at least 12 civilians, including seven children, according to police and rescue services.
The explosion caused the roof of a nearby mosque to collapse shortly after residents had broken their Ramadan fast, with the local market crowded with shoppers, a military official stated, requesting anonymity.
The official further reported that additional militants attempted to enter the military facility following the blast, but the assault was thwarted by security forces. Six militants were killed during the exchange of gunfire.
Muhammad Nauman, a spokesperson for Bannu Hospital, confirmed that 12 people had died and 30 were injured in the attack, all civilians trapped under the rubble of collapsed buildings and walls. The hospital’s list of casualties showed that at least seven children were among the deceased.
The local Rescue 1122 service was continuing efforts to find more victims under the debris.
Video footage from the scene depicted residents searching through piles of bricks and clearing metal scaffolding in the wreckage.
Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the attack, stating that “the evil ambitions of the enemies of Pakistan will never succeed.”
The identity of the attackers remains unclear. The Pakistani Taliban (TTP), an Islamist militant group, has increased attacks on Pakistani police and military in areas near the Afghan border in recent years.
Ali Amin Gandapur, Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the province where the explosion occurred, also condemned the attack and requested a report from senior police officials on the incident.
