2026 Bannu attacks
| 2026 Bannu attacks | |
|---|---|
| Part of the insurgency in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa | |
| Location | Bannu, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan |
| Date | 9 May 2026 8:55 p.m. (PST) |
| Target | Police, Frontier Corps |
Attack type | Suicide bombing, shootout, drone attacks, ambush |
| Weapons | Quadcopter drones, firearms, explosives |
| Deaths | 21 |
| Injured | 5 |
| Perpetrators | Ittehad-ul-Mujahideen Pakistan (claimed) |
No. of participants | 100+ |
| Defenders | Bannu Regional Police |
On 9 May 2026, several fighters detonated a car bomb near a security post before opening fire on police in Bannu, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan, killing at least 21[1] officers and injuring five others. An alliance of armed groups known as Ittehad-ul-Mujahideen Pakistan claimed responsibility for the attacks.
Attacks
At 8:55 p.m. local time, a suicide bomber and multiple fighters detonated an explosives-laden vehicle near a security post, causing the post to collapse, destroying nearby vehicles and severely damaging nearby civilian areas. Several houses collapsed due to the force of the blast.[2] The Bomb Disposal Squad estimated that between 1,200 and 1,500 kg of explosives were used in the attack.[3] Shortly after the explosions, the attackers entered the premises and got into a shootout with the remaining police officers.[4] Other law enforcement personnel were sent to help the police but were ambushed by the gunmen. Police sources said the attackers also used quadcopter drones. Bannu police official Muhammad Sajjad Khan said more than 100 militants were involved in the attacks.[5] Ambulances from rescue agencies and civil hospitals were dispatched to the scene, with officials saying a state of emergency was declared in government hospitals in Bannu.[6]
Rescuers conducted an hourslong search operation using heavy machinery to retrieve bodies from under the rubble.[7]
Victims
At least 21[1] police officers were killed and three others were injured. Two civilians also sustained injuries from the car bombing.[8]
Aftermath
Ittehad-ul-Mujahideen Pakistan, a newly formed self-proclaimed breakaway group from the Pakistani Taliban, claimed responsibility for the attack.[7][9] The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that the attack was carried out by terrorists from Afghanistan.[10] A day after the attack, hundreds gathered at the police headquarters to attend the funerals of the deceased.[7]
Days later on 12 May, an improvised explosive device detonated at a crowded market in Lakki Marwat, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, killing at least 10 people and injuring around 30 others, including some seriously. No group claimed responsibility.[11]
References
- ^ a b Staff, Al Jazeera. "Car bomb attack and ambush in northwest Pakistan kill at least 21 police". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 2026-05-13.
- ^ "Suicide bomber, gunmen kill 3 police officers in attack on security post in northwest Pakistan". Associated Press. 9 May 2026. Retrieved 10 May 2026.
- ^ "12 policemen killed in suicide attack in NW Pakistan". Xinhua News Agency. 10 May 2026. Retrieved 10 May 2026.
- ^ "Car bombing and shootout kills 14 Pakistani police officers". Reuters. 9 May 2026. Retrieved 10 May 2026.
- ^ "Pakistan: Car bomb attack at checkpoint kills 15". Deutsche-Welle. 10 May 2026. Retrieved 10 May 2026.
- ^ "Car bomb attack and ambush in northwest Pakistan kill at least 15 police". Al Jazeera. 9 May 2026. Retrieved May 10, 2026.
- ^ a b c "Death toll rises to 14 in Pakistan suicide attack. Its Taliban splinter group claims blast". CTV News. 10 May 2026. Retrieved 10 May 2026.
- ^ Phillips, Aleks (11 May 2026). "Pakistan car bomb attack kills 15 police officers". BBC. Retrieved 11 May 2026.
- ^ "Suicide bombing leaves 14 police dead in Pakistan". Sky News. 10 May 2026. Retrieved 10 May 2026.
- ^ "Pakistan says Bannu attack coordinated from Afghanistan". Amu Television. May 15, 2026. Retrieved May 24, 2026.
- ^ "Ten killed in blast in northwest Pakistan market, police say". Reuters. 12 May 2026. Retrieved 12 May 2026.