Up to 1,500kg explosives used in deadly Bannu terrorist attack: police report

Bannu Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) Sajjad Khan on Monday submitted a report to the City Police Office regarding the terrorist attack on the Fateh Khel police checkpost last Saturday, stating that terrorists detonated a vehicle packed with 1,200 to 1,500 kilogrammes of explosive material, killing 15 police personnel.

Along with confirming the martyrdom of the 15 police personnel and injuries to three others, the report stated that the vehicle was detonated near the gate of the checkpost at around 8:30pm on May 9.

The explosion caused severe damage to the checkpost building, with the terrorists attempting to storm it in a bid to seize equipment present inside, it added. The vehicle in question, according to authorities, was a loader rickshaw.

According to the report, retaliatory fire from police prevented the terrorists from entering, with several of the terrorists being killed or injured during the encounter.

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The report further stated that a search operation was launched following the attack. It added that the terrorist group responsible for the attack had been identified, confirming that terrorists based in Afghanistan were also involved in the incident.

Notably, the report maintained that Fateh Khel checkpost had been attacked 18 times over the past five months, with all previous attempts having failed as terrorists fled in the face of retaliatory fire. In this instance, however, the attackers had come equipped with a significantly larger quantity of explosive material, it added.

The death toll rose to 15 on Sunday as the banned outfit, Ittehad Mujahideen Pakistan, belonging to the Fitna al-Khawarij, claimed responsibility for the attack. Police had stated that the terrorists rammed an explosive-laden vehicle into the Fateh Khel checkpoint, triggering a massive blast, while they also opened fire from multiple directions after the explosion.

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Of the 18 police personnel present at the checkpoint at the time of the attack, police confirmed the identities of the 15 martyred as Rehmat Ayaz, Sanaullah, Niaz Ali, Sohaib, Saadullah, Kamran, Naimatullah, Abid Jani, Imran, Naeemullah, Sadiqullah, Mir Alam Khan, Rahatullah Khan and Farooq Dad. The injured were identified as Feroz, Hayatullah and Fidaullah.

Due to the intensity of the blast, nearby structures and residential buildings suffered extensive damage. Following the incident, emergency was declared in all three major hospitals in Bannu as security forces cordoned off the entire area and launched a search operation. Snap checking at entry and exit points of Bannu was also intensified.

Later, funeral prayers for the martyred policemen were offered with full state honours at Police Lines Bannu.

Meanwhile, Pakistan has summoned the Afghan Chargé d’Affaires and issued a “strong demarche” over the attack. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the demarche conveyed that a detailed investigation into the incident, along with evidence and technical intelligence, indicated that the attack was masterminded by terrorists residing in Afghanistan.

"Reiterating Pakistan’s grave concern over the continued use of Afghan soil for terrorist attacks against Pakistan, it was impressed upon the Afghan side that Pakistan reserves the right to respond decisively against the perpetrators of this barbaric act," the ministry said.