An improvised explosive device blast in Lakki Marwat’s Serai Naurang town left nine people injured, including four police officers, when attackers targeted a patrol vehicle on the busy Bannu–DI Khan Road.

The device had been fitted to a motorcycle and detonated near a fruit and vegetable market, causing extensive damage to the police van, nearby shops, and several parked vehicles. The force of the explosion was such that it even damaged a local power transmission line.

Among the wounded were five civilians, including three children and two elderly men, highlighting the indiscriminate nature of the attack. Regional Police Officer Sajjad Khan visited the injured at hospital, assuring them of the best possible medical care and vowing that such acts of terror would not weaken the resolve of the police force.

He stressed that the authorities remain committed to countering the designs of those seeking to destabilise the region.

This incident follows a disturbing pattern of violence in Lakki Marwat. Just two weeks earlier, another IED strike in the Bettani subdivision claimed the lives of seven police personnel, including a station house officer. That attack also targeted a routine patrol, underscoring the vulnerability of law enforcement units operating in high-risk areas.

The latest blast reflects the persistent threat posed by militant groups in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where police patrols and security forces continue to be prime targets. The attacks not only aim to inflict casualties but also to undermine public confidence by striking in crowded civilian areas. Despite these challenges, police officials maintain that their determination to uphold peace and security remains unshaken.

ANI