Investigators recover vehicle parts; More than 1,000 kilos of explosives destroyed a police checkpoint
Rescue and search operations continue after terrorists rammed an explosive-laden vehicle into the Fateh Khel police check post in Bannu district of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa on Saturday night, martyring 12 policemen. PHOTO: EXPRESS
In a major development in the investigation into the deadly suicide attack on the Fatah Khel police checkpost in Bannu district of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, authorities have revealed that the attackers used an explosive-laden rickshaw.
According to Bomb Disposal Team officials, preliminary findings indicate that the vehicle contained between 1,000 and 1,500 kilograms of highly explosive material, making the explosion exceptionally powerful. The police checkpoint was completely destroyed during the attack.
Sources confirmed that several parts of the cargo rickshaw, along with other crucial evidence, were recovered from the scene and taken into custody for forensic analysis. Following the explosion, security has been further tightened in the area and law enforcement agencies have expanded their investigation to locate those involved in planning and facilitating the attack.
Read: 15 police martyred and three injured in Bannu suicide attack on checkpoint
Senior police officers and bomb disposal squad teams are meticulously examining all aspects of the incident. Authorities said modern technical and intelligence resources are being employed to identify and arrest the facilitators and masterminds behind the attack.
Meanwhile, high alert has been declared in Bannu and surrounding areas following the suicide attack by Fatah Khel. Surveillance and security measures have been significantly improved at sensitive locations, police stations and security checkpoints.
On the other hand, Inspector General of Police Zulfiqar Hameed made an emergency visit to Bannu district on Sunday where he met senior police officials and frontline personnel.
The IGP requested a full report on last night’s terror attack and was briefed on the ongoing investigation and the overall security situation. He was accompanied by Chief Secretary Shahab Ali Shah and Additional IG CTD.
The provincial police chief met individually with field officers and agents, boosting their morale. Addressing the officers and staff on the occasion, the KP IGP stated that Bannu Police has always played a frontline role in the war against terrorism and has made priceless sacrifices.
“Whether it is crime eradication or operations against terrorists, Bannu police have always achieved successes,” he said. He further added, “Now that the terrorists, unable to confront the courage and bravery of the police, have resorted to cowardly tactics, we will also maintain our full preparations to bring them to their logical end.”
The provincial police chief declared: “Every drop of blood of police martyrs will be avenged and generations of terrorists will remember our response.”
A special Fatiha was offered for the martyrs and the promise was reaffirmed that every KP police officer will remain the protector of the soil and the guarantor of public life and property until his last drop of blood.
Subsequently, the IGP and the Chief Secretary chaired a high-level meeting to review all the details of the incident and examine proposals for a future strategy. They issued directives to senior officers to further strengthen human intelligence, conduct a fresh security audit of police infrastructure, particularly police stations and check posts, and make them impregnable.
