On Tuesday evening, At least 11 people lost their lives in a deadly attack in Bannu Pakistan. Four children and five women – lost their lives and 22 were injured after terrorists pushed two explosive vehicles into the area of Bannu Cantonment while trying to enter the high-security zone of the Cantonment. Sources said that six terrorists also died in the shoot-out which occurred in the jurisdiction of the Bannu Cantonment police station. The militants exploded the vehicles at the gate after they were stopped by security staff who were on duty at the entrance of the Cantonment area.
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Sources said that the explosion was followed by “an unknown number of militants” attempting to penetrate which resulted in a gun battle. The attack began at 6:30 pm after Iftar. In the attack, Militants used grenades and fired RPGs. The statement said more troops and SSG commandos had been sent to the spot. The sources also confirmed the number of dead and injured, including 10 security men. The injured were evacuated to the DHQ and KGN hospitals in Bannu, while the wounded troops were moved to the CMH.
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Sources reported that at several entry points of the Cantonment, six militants were killed by the security forces, while the other attackers were surrounded by them. According to a source, a member of the outlawed Hafiz Gul Bahadur group, Jaish-i-Fursan Muhammad accepted the responsibility for the attack on social media. According to a source, a member of the outlawed Hafiz Gul Bahadur group, Jaish-i-Fursan Muhammad accepted the responsibility for the attack on social media. The claim by Jaish-i-Fursan could not be confirmed by the third party.
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More than a dozen people from nearby places were buried under the waste of several roofs and walls of buildings and houses, the walls and roofs collapsed due to the intensity of the explosion. A mosque which is near the entrance of the Cantonment also collapsed and many worshippers were trapped under the waste of the Mosque. The rescue team is trying to retrieve them from the debris.
A rescue official said in a statement that the Ambulances and the rescue team were sent to the area to start a rescue mission. He said, “People are trapped under the waste of the destroyed houses and a Mosque and the rescue team is trying to pull them out of the debris”. The District Administration official confirmed that nine people lost their lives and 22 others were injured, according to hospital reports, although the total number of victims remains unconfirmed. An emergency has been declared in the hospital, and the doctors and the paramedics were called out on duty.
PM Expressed Sorrow
In an Official Statement, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif praised the efforts of security forces and expressed sorrow over the martyrdom of the innocent citizens in the attack. He prayed for the highest rank in Jannah for the martyrs and patience for the families of the martyr and also prayed for the speedy recovery of the injured.
The PM said, “Cowardly terrorists who target innocent citizens in the holy month of Ramadan do not deserve any concessions.” The Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan which is banned from Pakistan is the biggest enemy of Pakistan and we will never allow them to succeed in their missions.
