15 policemen martyred in suicide assault on Bannu Police post

• Explosives-laden vehicle rams Fateh Khel police post, reducing it to rubble

• Coordinated militant assault follows blast with heavy gunfire from multiple directions: Witnesses say

• DIG Khan says 18 personnel were present at checkpoint; three pulled alive from debris

• Attackers used quadcopters and heavy weaponry during deadly overnight raid

• Armoured vehicle destroyed, nearby buildings damaged; emergency declared in hospitals

• PM condemns Bannu attack, reaffirms anti-terror resolve in phone talk with KP CM

BANNU/ISLAMABAD: At least 15 police personnel were martyred and three others injured after terrorists rammed an explosives-laden vehicle into the Fateh Khel Police checkpoint in Bannu District late Saturday night, police and rescue officials confirmed.

The massive blast completely destroyed the police post and trapped several personnel under the rubble.

“Terrorists rammed an explosives-laden vehicle into the police post, triggering a huge explosion that reduced the checkpoint to rubble and left several personnel trapped beneath the debris,” a Bannu police spokesperson confirmed on Sunday.

Bannu Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Sajjad Khan said the powerful explosion caused extensive destruction at the checkpost, where a total of 18 police personnel were present at the time of the attack.

According to the DIG, 15 personnel embraced martyrdom while three sustained injuries.

Rescue teams immediately launched an operation at the site and managed to pull three police officers alive from the rubble before continuing search and rescue efforts through the night.

Police said that following the explosion, terrorists launched a coordinated assault on the checkpoint, opening heavy fire and attacking from multiple directions. Multiple blasts were heard in the area, triggering fear and panic among local residents.

“During the assault, the militants used quadcopters along with heavy weaponry,” a senior administrative official in Bannu told AFP on condition of anonymity.

Police sources said communication with the Fateh Khel police post was briefly lost following the attack.

Bannu police identified the martyred personnel as Rehmat Ayaz, Sanaullah, Niaz Ali (driver), Habib, Saadullah Jan (driver), Kamran, son of Khan Sikandar, Kamran, Noorullah, Kamran, Abid Jani, Imran, Kaleemullah, Sadiqullah, Munir Alam Khan, Rahatullah Khan and Farooq.

The injured were identified as Mujrim Feroz, Hayatullah and Qadarullah.

The powerful blast also destroyed an armoured vehicle stationed at the checkpoint, while nearby buildings suffered extensive damage due to the intensity of the explosion.

An emergency was declared in local hospitals following the attack.

DIG Sajjad Khan visited the District Headquarters (DHQ) Hospital late Saturday night to inquire about the condition of the injured personnel and review the medical treatment being provided.

Speaking to media at the hospital, he said the morale of Bannu Police remained high despite the deadly attack.

“Terrorists will never succeed in their nefarious designs,” he said, adding that the attack would prove to be the terrorists’ “last cowardly act.”

He vowed that Bannu Police would “hunt down the terrorists one by one” and ensure their complete elimination from the area.

No group immediately claimed responsibility for the attack.

Following the incident, Bannu Police launched a search and clearance operation under the supervision of DIG Sajjad Khan, while security forces cordoned off the area.

Police also tightened security across the city and established additional checkpoints as part of heightened security measures.

Local residents also came out in support of law enforcement personnel.

Rescue 1122 concluded the rescue operation at the site on Sunday morning.

“The rescue operation has been completed. Fifteen bodies and three injured were recovered from the debris,” Rescue 1122 said.

Meanwhile, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi said he was “deeply saddened by the tragic incident.”

“These courageous sons of the soil sacrificed their lives while protecting the people of Pakistan and defending peace. Their bravery, commitment and sacrifice will never be forgotten,” he wrote on X.

Deeply saddened by the tragic incident in Bannu in which 15 brave KPK policemen embraced shahadat in the line of duty.

These courageous sons of the soil sacrificed their lives while protecting the people of Pakistan and defending peace. Their bravery, commitment and sacrifice…

— Mohsin Naqvi (@MohsinnaqviC42) May 10, 2026

Naqvi expressed heartfelt condolences and prayers for the bereaved families and prayed for the martyrs’ elevated ranks.

“Pakistan stands united against terrorism and such cowardly acts can never weaken our resolve,” the interior minister affirmed.

 PM condemns Bannu attack, reaffirms anti-terror resolve in phone talk with KP CM

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Sunday telephoned KP Chief Minister Sohail Afridi and strongly condemned the terrorist attack.

The premier expressed deep sorrow and grief over the loss of precious lives in the attack and prayed for the elevation of ranks of the police personnel martyred.

وزیراعظم محمد شہباز شریف کا وزیرِ اعلیٰ خیبر پختونخوا محمد سہیل آفریدی سے ٹیلیفونک رابطہ

وزیراعظم کی گزشتہ روز بنوں میں پولیس چوکی پر دہشت گرد حملے کی شدید مذمت۔

وزیراعظم کا دہشت گردی کے مکمل خاتمے کے لیے وفاق کا صوبائی حکومتوں کے ساتھ مل کر کام کرنے کے عزم کا اعادہ۔

"دہشت… pic.twitter.com/YLOgk0cEpS

— Government of Pakistan (@GovtofPakistan) May 10, 2026

He also extended heartfelt condolences to their bereaved families and prayed for the speedy recovery of those injured in the attack.

Reaffirming the federal government’s commitment to eliminating terrorism, he said that the centre would continue working closely with provincial governments to ensure the complete eradication of terrorism from the country.

“We will provide every possible assistance to the provincial government in the fight against terrorism,” PM Shehbaz said.

Both leaders paid tribute to the armed forces, security forces, and police personnel for their sacrifices and efforts in combating terrorism.

The prime minister reiterated that the government remained fully determined to eliminate all forms of terrorism from the country.

President Asif Ali Zardari also condemned the attack, a statement carried by state broadcaster Radio Pakistan said.

President @AAliZardari has paid tribute to the police personnel martyred in a terrorist attack carried out by Fitna al-Khawarij on the Fateh Khel police station in #Bannu#News #RadioPakistan https://t.co/YsVMCaPQEG pic.twitter.com/cKX9AYbQXq

— Radio Pakistan (@RadioPakistan) May 10, 2026

He paid tribute to the police personnel martyred in a terrorist attack and prayed for their “eternal peace and elevation of the ranks”, the statement said, adding that the president also expressed sorrow over the damage caused to the homes of area residents in the incident.

President Zardari directed the provincial and federal governments to ensure all possible assistance for the injured and those affected by the attack, the statement said.

It quoted him as saying: “Nefarious designs of terrorist elements would be foiled and the nation stands shoulder to shoulder with its forces.”

He said that “at a time when Pakistan is striving for regional and global peace, terrorists backed by India are targeting Pakistan’s civilian population and law enforcement agencies from sanctuaries provided by the Taliban regime”.

The president expressed confidence that Pakistan would succeed in its efforts for global peace and defeat terrorists as well as their patrons.

“Pakistan will target not only the terrorists, but also their facilitators and sponsors,” he said.

KP CM reaffirms vow to terror fight after deadly Bannu attack

Meanwhile, in a statement, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi strongly condemned the terrorist attack and expressed deep sorrow over the loss of police personnel.

He directed the authorities to ensure the provision of the best possible medical treatment to the injured.

“The war against terrorism is not just Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s war, but a war for the entire country,” the chief minister said, adding that decisions made “behind closed doors” and “imposed policies” had pushed the country into a state of insecurity.

He said the provincial government stood with every family affected by terrorism and paid tribute to the sacrifices rendered by the province’s police force in the frontline fight against militancy.

“Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Police have made immense sacrifices in the war against terrorism,” Afridi said.

The chief minister vowed that the sacrifices of the martyrs would not go in vain and pledged to continue efforts until “the menace of terrorism is completely eradicated”.

Iranian envoy, Turkiye condemn Bannu attack

Reza Amiri Moghadam, Iran’s ambassador to Pakistan, also condemned the terrorist attack on the Fateh Khel police post.

In a statement, he expressed condolences to the government and people of Pakistan, particularly the bereaved families, and prayed for the speedy recovery of the injured.

On behalf of the Government and the people of the Islamic Republic of Iran, i strongly condemn the hideous and awkward terrorist attack on the Fateh Khel police post in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Bannu district leading to the martyrdom of 15 police personnel and the injury of some… pic.twitter.com/rogd50uCWx

— Reza Amiri Moghadam (@IranAmbPak) May 10, 2026

Embassy of Türkiye in Pakistan also condemned the attack in Bannu and vowed to “stand in full solidarity with Pakistan”.

We condemn in the strongest terms the vile terrorist attack that took place in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Bannu district, Pakistan.

We wish Allah’s mercy upon those who lost their lives and extend our deepest condolences to their families and to the brotherly people of Pakistan.…

— Türkiye in Pakistan (@TC_IslamabadBE) May 10, 2026

 Bannu scene of repeated security incidents in recent months

Bannu District has witnessed repeated security incidents in recent months, with both civilians and security personnel coming under attack amid a broader surge in militant violence.

The district has seen attacks on police personnel and jirga members, prompting targeted operations by police and security forces in various localities aimed at dismantling militant networks.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has been battling a persistent wave of terrorism since the United States’ withdrawal from Afghanistan, with militants frequently crossing the border to target police convoys and security installations, resulting in the deaths of several officials and personnel.

The province has recorded the highest number of terrorist incidents in the country. Out of a total of 5,397 reported incidents last year, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa accounted for 3,811, followed by Balochistan with 1,557 incidents, while only 29 incidents were reported from the rest of the country.

A total of 2,597 terrorists were killed during the year.