At least four civilians were martyred while 14 others, including two policemen, were injured in a remotely-detonated bomb attack on a police patrol vehicle in a bustling marketplace of South Waziristan tribal district of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa on Thursday morning.
No group immediately claimed responsibility for the deadly bombing, but similar attacks in the past were carried out by the outlawed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), which officials claim is operating from its safe havens across the border in Afghanistan.
The police vehicle suffered partial damage in the attack, police said, adding that most of the casualties were passersby and shopkeepers. The bomb went off near the main taxi stand in Wana Bazaar during rush hours, triggering panic and chaos in the market.
Witnesses said that the bomb was triggered moments after the police vehicle pulled up near the taxi stand. The windows of several shops were shattered by the impact of the explosion and stampede-like scenes ensued. Rescuers and law enforcers rushed to the scene and drove the casualties to the District Headquarters Hospital, where a state of emergency was declared.
Medics at the hospital confirmed that four civilians succumbed to their injuries, while two of the injured were also in critical condition. Two policemen are among the injured as they were on board the mobile that narrowly escaped a direct hit.
Wana DSP Shakirullah told The Express Tribune that it was an improvised explosive device (IED) which was detonated remotely. "The police vehicle sustained minor damage, but unfortunately, civilians in the vicinity bore the brunt of the explosion," he added.
Soon after the blast, police, along with bomb disposal experts, threw a security cordon around the area and began collecting forensic evidence from the crime scene. A manhunt was also launched in nearby areas for the terrorists involved in the attack.
All shops and businesses in Wana Bazaar were closed, and the area wore a deserted look amid palpable fear and grief. Local tribesmen expressed concern over the deteriorating security situation in the border district where TTP terrorists once held sway.
"We are living under constant threat. The government has failed to protect us," said a local shopkeeper, echoing the sentiments of many traders and residents.
Tribal elders strongly condemned the bombing and demanded immediate and concrete measures to restore peace in the volatile district. "This is not the first such incident, and it won't be the last unless a serious change is made in the security approach. The people are gripped with fear and looking towards the state for protection," Malik Nazar Khan, a prominent elder, told The Express Tribune.
The deputy commissioner of South Waziristan Lower has ordered a thorough probe into the incident and directed law enforcement agencies to bring the perpetrators to justice at the earliest.
Attacks targeting security forces, police, and civilians have seen a sharp uptick in various parts of the volatile district in recent months. Incidents of remote-controlled blasts, ambushes, and targeted killings have been frequently reported from areas including Wana, Birmal, Shakai, and Ladha.
Locals have warned that if timely action is not taken, the situation may spiral back to the violent era of 20089 when the region was virtually ruled by terrorist groups. The latest blast is a stark reminder that peace remains elusive in the district.
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