Two suicide bombings targeting a military base killed 18 people in northwestern Pakistan. A militant group linked to the Pakistani Taliban claimed responsibility.
Schools and shops remained closed in Pakistan’s northwestern city of Bannu on Wednesday as the community prepared for funerals of victims of a double suicide bombing.
The attack on Tuesday evening killed 18 people, including five soldiers. Jaish Al-Fursan, a militant group affiliated with the Pakistani Taliban, claimed responsibility.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the attackers as “cowardly terrorists who target innocent civilians during the holy month of Ramadan” and said they “deserve no mercy.”
How the attack unfolded
Militants rammed explosives-laden vehicles into a wall at the Bannu military base in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.
Provincial minister Pakhtoon Yar Khan told the AFP news agency that attackers stormed the base from two sides, triggering a clash with the army.
“After an intense operation lasting several hours until this morning, all attackers were eliminated,” said Khan.
Pakistan’s military said in a statement: “In this intense exchange of fire, five brave soldiers, after putting up a heroic resistance, embraced martyrdom in the line of duty.”
The statement said 16 militants, including four suicide bombers, were killed.
Local mosque devastated by attack
The blasts caused the roof of a nearby mosque to collapse while worshippers were inside. The attack occurred after sunset, when many were gathered inside the mosque to break their fast during the holy month of Ramadan.
At least 13 civilians died in the attack, including six children, while around 30 other people were wounded, some critically.
Rescue teams worked through the rubble, recovering three bodies of worshippers trapped under the collapsed mosque roof. A mechanical digger cleared debris while prayer mats covered in dust and rubble lay crumpled on the mosque floor.
Bannu community leader Alam Khan announced that joint funeral prayers for the victims would be held at a local sports complex.
The city of Bannu has witnessed several militant attacks in the past months as the region faces a rising wave of violence. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa borders Afghanistan, where several militant groups operate.
