Two tribal leaders, minor killed in Bajaur Agency blast

IS claims responsibility for the attack

BAJAUR AGENCY: At least two tribal leaders and a minor were killed while two others were injured in an Improvised Explosive Devices (IED) blast conducted by Islamic State (IS) on Saturday in Bajaur Agency's Utmankhel Tehsil area.

According to initial reports, an IED was planted on the road which exploded when the tribal leaders drove near it. As a result of the blast, the two men were killed, while 5-year-old Sahil Khan succumbed to injuries.

Shortly after the attack, Islamic State (IS) claimed responsibility for the attack.

“The ‘Khelafat-e-Islamic’ claims responsibility for the mine blast that killed Malik Dawa Khan in Bajaur’s Ghazi Baba area,” a spokesperson for the group, Shahidullah Shahid told The Express Tribune.

Although IS confirmed Shahid's death in a US drone strike in Afghanistan’s Nangarhar province last month, the group said that "we will use this name for every spokesperson."

Read: 7 security officials injured in Mohmand Agency IED blast

"The deceased, Fazal Karim and Dawa Khan, both notables were in a car when it struck an IED planted on the road," a political administration official said.

"Three children, Ihtisham, Hussain and Sahil were passing by when the explosion occurred and were immediately shifted to the Agency Headquarters Hospital for treatment," the official added.

Read: Eight men of Bajaur Scouts, three BDU officials injured

Soon after the incident, police cordoned off the area and began a search operation.

Further, the group also claimed responsibility for a recent attack on security forces in Bajaur.

Majority of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan leaders and commanders from Bajaur have joined IS and they are believed to operate from the Afghan side of the border.