Security forces foil attempts to blow up girls’ school and bridge in Bannu

BANNU: Security forces thwarted two separate attempts to destroy civilian infrastructure in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Bannu district on Thursday, targeting a government girls’ school and a bridge, according to officials and local sources.

Local sources said explosives planted at the girls’ school caused partial damage to the building. Security forces then responded and prevented what officials indicated could have become a much larger incident.

In the second incident, terrorists planted explosives beneath a bridge in an apparent bid to bring it down and disrupt movement in the area. Officials said a barrel packed with explosives had been placed under the structure. After receiving information about the device, security forces reached the site and a bomb disposal unit defused it successfully.

Security forces said about 50 kilogrammes of explosives had been planted beneath the bridge. They added that investigations had been launched into both incidents, while law enforcement agencies had stepped up search operations and intelligence-based efforts in the area to arrest those responsible.

Recent security incidents in Bannu

Bannu has witnessed repeated violence in recent months, with civilians as well as local security personnel coming under attack amid a wider increase in militant activity.

Last month, seven people were killed and three others were injured in two explosions in Marka Bera, a semi-tribal mountainous area in Bannu’s Wazir subdivision.

In another incident in June, militants tried to destroy the Teri Ram Bridge on Miryan Road with explosives. Local sources said the blast partially damaged the bridge and also affected a nearby mosque building, though no casualties were reported.

On May 23, at least two police personnel and two civilians were martyred, while 25 terrorists were killed in a clash involving law enforcers, a peace committee and militants. Earlier, on May 9, at least 15 police personnel were martyred in a suicide attack on the Fateh Khel police post in Bannu.

Violence in the district has also included attacks on police and jirga members, leading to targeted operations by police and other security forces.