Three police officers killed in car bomb attack in northwest Pakistan

"A car bombing at a police post followed by an intense firefight has killed at least three officers in northwestern Pakistan, according to police and security sources. The attack took place in Bannu, a district in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province bordering Afghanistan, late on Saturday."

"Police official Zahid Khan told The Associated Press that a suicide bomber and several fighters detonated an explosives-laden vehicle near a security post. Shortly after, multiple explosions were heard and the security post collapsed from the impact of the blast, he said. Pakistan's Dawn reported that nearby civilian areas also suffered severe damage due to the blasts, and two civilians were injured."

"The Reuters news agency, citing security officials, reported that after the bombing, there was an ambush on police personnel rushing to the scene to provide backup. Police official Sajjad Khan told Reuters that more casualties were feared. He added that fighting was ongoing and the extent of the damage would only be known once the operation was over. Police sources told Reuters the aggressors also used drones in the attack."

"Ambulances from rescue agencies and civil hospitals were dispatched to the scene, with officials saying a state of emergency has been declared in government hospitals in Bannu. No group immediately claimed responsibility. However, such attacks have the potential to reignite fighting along Pakistan's border with Afghanistan. The worst fighting in years erupted between the allies-turned-foes in February, with Pakistani air strikes inside Afghanistan that Islamabad said targeted fighters' strongholds."

A suicide bomber drove an explosives-laden vehicle into a security post in Bannu, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, near the Afghanistan border. Multiple explosions collapsed the post and caused severe damage in nearby civilian areas, with two civilians injured. After the blast, attackers ambushed police personnel moving to the scene for backup, and fighting continued while more casualties were feared. Security sources reported the attackers used drones during the attack. Ambulances and rescue teams were dispatched, and a state of emergency was declared in government hospitals in Bannu. No group claimed responsibility. The attack raised concerns about renewed violence along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border, where fighting had eased after major clashes earlier in the year.

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