All injured in Bannu attack out of danger; 2 policemen martyred in Lakki Marwat

BANNU: Health officials in Bannu said on Tuesday that seven injured have been shifted to the District Hospital Bannu after an early morning attack on an installation of security forces in Bannu, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

A Station House Officer (SHO) and three policemen are among the injured, spokesman for the Medical Teaching Institute (MTI) told HUM News English.

Also read: Attack on security forces installation in Bannu foiled: sources

Police sources said a group of militants launched an attack on Federal Constabulary (FC) Line around 5:15 AM after blowing up an explosive-packed vehicle and later opened fire. A joint operation was initiated against the militants shortly after the attack. SHO Damsaz Khan and three other police were injured in fire exchange.

“All the injured were immediately provided first aid in the emergency department. Later, the patients have been shifted to the relevant wards where their condition is being monitored continuously,” the MTI spokesman said.

He said condition of all the injured is out of danger and expert doctors and paramedical staff are giving full attention to restoring their health.

An emergency has been declared in the hospital and all the staff are on alert.  Provision of all necessary resources and facilities, including medicines, has been ensured for the treatment of the injured.

Earlier, security sources said the attack was “successfully repulsed”. Locals, however, said they heard an explosion and firing near the FC line. Security sources said three militants have been killed.

Earlier reports said that a group of militants launched first blew up an explosive-laden vehicle and then started firing. After the incident, roads to the FC Line on Kohat Road were closed. Parts of the vehicle could be seen lying on the road. Firing could be heard in videos posted on social media as well.

Jabhatu Ansar al-Mahdi Khorasan (JAMK), affiliated with Hafiz Gul Bahadur, claimed responsibility for the attack.

OPERATION AGAINST MILITANTS CONTINUES

Regional Police Officer Sajjad Khan said that the operation against the attackers on Frontier Constabulary (FC) Line in Bannu, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, is underway.

Giving details of the attack, the RPO told reporters near the scene that the terrorists launched the attack early this morning. Firing could be heard in video recording of the RPO. “First they used Vehicle Borne Improvised Explosive Device (VBIED) for the suicide blast and later four or five armed men entered the building after blowing up the gate. Operation is going-on against them. Security forces, police, CTD’s troops are inside and are conducting a joint operation” Khan said.

He said five policemen were injured and four to five evacuated so far. “SHO of cantt area is among the injured. His condition is stable. We will airlift him to Peshawar.” He said most of the attackers have been neutralised and at least one is still alive and is resisting.

“The operation will be concluded soon. The District Police Officer is leading the joint operation. The militants were hiding in an old building of FC and were firing from there. The building was strong and forces were facing some difficulties but most militants have been eliminated. But still there is some resistance,” he added.

TWO POLICEMEN MARTYRED IN LAKKI MARWAT

Another terrorist attack was reported in Lakki Marwat. Police said that militants opened fire on two policemen on duty on Tuesday morning, martyring them at the scene.

“Two policemen were going for duty on a motorcycle when miscreants belonging to a banned group martyred them on Begokhel road near Mela Shahabkhel,” according to a police report available to HUM News English.

Also read: Militant attacks in Pakistan surge to decade-high in August

Those martyred were identified as constable Asad and constable Samiullah. “Terrorists fled the scene and a heavy police contingent reached the spot and launched an operation to apprehend the culprits,” the report said.