A devastating suicide car bomb attack on a police station in northwest Pakistan has left five dead and thirteen injured, raising concerns about regional security and prompting denials of responsibility from the TTP.
Police said the suicide bomber rammed his explosives-laden vehicle into the rear side of the police station in Domel tehsil of Bannu district in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, triggering a powerful explosion.
The intensity of the blast, which was heard miles away, triggered panic among residents. Gunfire erupted immediately after the explosion, further heightening tension in the area.
No group immediately claimed responsibility for the attack.
According to police, rescue teams have recovered five bodies from the site. Among the deceased are a husband, wife, daughter, and son from the same family.
At least four police personnel were among 13 injured in the blast. Emergency response and rescue operations are ongoing as authorities continue to assess the situation.
Several nearby houses were damaged in the blast.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the attack, expressing sorrow at the loss of life, according to a statement issued by his office.
Preliminary information suggests that the police station was the primary target, officials said.
The banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) denied any involvement in the blast.
In a statement, TTP spokesperson Muhammad Khorasani said that his group was not involved in the attack. Instead, it alleged that the incident was orchestrated by the establishment and state institutions, accusing them of staging such actions at the cost of civilian lives.
He alleged that the objective behind the blast was to turn residents against militants and create divisions among the population.
It urged the public to remain vigilant against what it described as "deceptive tactics" and to resist efforts aimed at sowing discord.
There has been no immediate response from government or military officials regarding these claims.