Bannu police repel deadly terror attack

Bannu police thwarted a major terrorist assault on the Mazanga police post early Wednesday, killing at least six attackers, officials said.

According to police, heavily armed terrorists launched a pre-dawn attack on the post.

Police personnel responded swiftly, repulsing the assault after an intense exchange of fire. One terrorist was killed on the spot, while accomplices took away the bodies of five others.

Senior police officials, and teams from the Rapid Response Force and Quick Response Force reached the site soon after the incident. The area was cordoned off and a search operation was launched. Blood traces found at multiple locations indicated additional terrorist casualties.

A police constable sustained minor injuries during the attack and was shifted to a nearby hospital, where he was reported to be out of danger.

Security forces also recovered weapons and equipment from the scene, including magazines, hand grenades and bandoliers.

Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa IG Zulfiqar Hameed commended the Bannu police for their performance and announced cash rewards and commendation certificates for the personnel.

The incident comes amid a recent surge in terrorist activity in Bannu, where security forces and civilians have been repeatedly targeted. Days earlier, five employees of the National Radio Telecommunication Corporation were abducted by unidentified gunmen while working on a project.

On Sunday, a police head constable and his five-year-old daughter were injured in firing by motorcycle-borne assailants near Shah Deu. The same day, the Bomb Disposal Squad defused an improvised explosive device in the jurisdiction of Kaki police station, averting a major disaster.