Forces foil attack on Bannu Cantt, six terrorists killed; dozens of civilians dead

BANNU: Security forces successfully Tuesday thwarted an attempted terrorist attack on Bannu Cantt after Iftar, killing at six attackers, sources said. 

According to security sources, militants tried to forcefully enter the high-security area but were intercepted in time. 

In a state of panic, the attackers rammed two explosives-laden vehicles into the perimeter wall of Bannu Cantt, sources added. 

Security personnel at various entry points engaged the terrorists, killing six while surrounding the remaining attackers. 

The massive explosions also damaged a nearby mosque, while the roof of a house collapsed, reportedly causing casualties and injuries among civilians, sources said. 

Images and videos reportedly of the incident on social media, which could not be verified independently, show disturbing details. Children are seen in pictures succumbing to injuries after being buried under the collapsed roof of the damaged house.

Sources said the injured were rushed to District Headquarters Hospital, Bannu. Rescue operations is underway to rescue people buried under debris of damaged mosque and houses.

Moreover, security sources confirmed that a clearance operation is also underway in Bannu Cantt and adjacent areas, which will continue until all militants are neutralized.

Muhammad Numan, spokesperson for District Bannu Hospital, said an emergency has been declared in all hospitals across Bannu.
All medical staff, including those who were off-duty, have been called in, and additional supplies of medicines have been ordered, he said.

According to Numan, 12 people have died and 30 others are injured. He added that all the casualties were caused by the collapse of roofs and walls

This is the second terrorist attack in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa during the last seven days.

On February 28, JUI-S leader Maulana Hamid Ul Haq, son of Maulana Samiul Haq, amongst six others, was killed in the blast that rocked Madrassah Darul Uloom Haqqania in Akora Khattak, Nowshera after Friday prayers.

Hafiz Gul Bahadur group of the banned Pakistani Taliban (TTP) attack has reportedly claimed responsibility of the Bannu cantt attack.

Pakistan has been calling upon the Taliban government since they held power in Afghanistan to stop terrorists attacks against Pakistan from Afghan soil.

Even the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres had expressed his serious concern over the series of cross-border terrorist attacks from Afghanistan against Pakistan, and asked the Taliban-ruled country to stop those incursions.

Meanwhile, Afghanistan Interior Ministry said Monday that one Afghan soldier was killed and two injured during an exchange of fire between Afghan and Pakistani forces at Torkham, a key border crossing between the two countries.

Guns remained silent across the border at Torkham today after the overnight firing that this unfortunate incident in Bannu Cantt occurred.