At least nine people, including five children, were killed, and more than 25 others were injured after two suicide bombings struck Pakistan’s Bannu military complex on Tuesday night, according to local officials.
The attack, which occurred during iftar, the evening meal to break the fast in the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, was followed by intense gunfire between security forces and the assailants.
Bannu, a key city near the Afghan border, serves as a strategic hub for Pakistan’s military operations in the Waziristan region.
The blasts caused significant destruction, with roofs and walls of nearby houses collapsing due to the force of the explosions. A mosque within the cantonment also suffered damage, trapping worshippers under the debris.
Bannu police official Noor Marwat described the sequence of events to The Media Line: “The first attack involved a bomber ramming an explosives-laden vehicle into the cantonment gate, while a second vehicle was detonated near the perimeter wall.”
He added, “The blasts were followed by an attempted takeover of the compound by several armed militants.”
A group affiliated with the Pakistani Taliban militant group claimed responsibility the attack.
