Khyber Pakhtunkhwa – Civilian Killed, Four Injured in Bannu Quadcopter Blast
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa – One person was killed and four others, including a teenager, were injured after a suspected militant group reportedly dropped an explosive device from a quadcopter in the Bakakhel area of Bannu district in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Tuesday.
Blast Reported Within Baka Khel Police Limits
District Police Officer Muhammad Furqan Bilal said the explosive device was released in an area falling under the jurisdiction of Baka Khel Police Station. The blast killed one person at the location, while four others sustained injuries.
Police officials said the injured victims were moved to the District Headquarters Hospital for medical care. Their condition was not immediately disclosed.
Security Measures Increased After Drone Attacks
According to the district police chief, authorities have expanded security arrangements at police stations, checkpoints and other sensitive locations following earlier attempts to target law enforcement personnel through quadcopters.
Bilal said anti-drone guns had been deployed in several areas and had helped security forces prevent multiple suspected attacks in recent weeks. The measures were introduced as authorities faced repeated threats involving aerial devices carrying explosives.
Police Allege Shift Toward Civilian Targets
The DPO alleged that suspected militants had turned their attention towards civilians after facing difficulty in carrying out attacks on police and security installations. He said such incidents appeared aimed at creating fear among residents in the district.
Authorities have not released details about the suspected group involved in Tuesday’s explosion. An investigation is underway to determine the source of the device and identify those responsible for the attack.
Bridge Damaged on CPEC Circular Road
In a separate development, local sources reported that a bridge on the CPEC Circular Road in the Saidgi area of Baka Khel was damaged in an explosion. The incident disrupted traffic movement and affected travel in the surrounding area.
Officials had not immediately confirmed whether the bridge explosion was linked to the quadcopter attack. Security personnel were expected to inspect the site and assess the extent of damage.
Recent Drone Strike in South Waziristan
The Bannu incident occurred two days after another suspected quadcopter strike in Lower South Waziristan, where three girls were killed and four members of the same family were injured on Sunday.
The recent incidents have renewed concerns about the use of small aerial devices in attacks across parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Police and security agencies continue to review security arrangements in vulnerable areas while investigations into the latest attacks continue.