At least two people, including a policeman, were killed and 26 others injured when an improvised explosive device (IED) detonated near a police van in Lower Wana Bazaar of South Waziristan district, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, on Saturday evening, police and local sources said.
According to police officials, the explosion occurred in the busy Lower Wana marketplace where a police vehicle was passing at the time of the blast. Initial reports indicate that the IED had been planted to target the police van; however, the powerful explosion also struck nearby civilians in the crowded bazaar.
As a result of the blast, at least two people lost their lives, including a member of the police force, while 26 others sustained injuries. A significant number of the casualties are reported to be civilians who were present in the market when the explosion took place.
Following the incident, security personnel and rescue teams rushed to the site and shifted the injured to nearby medical facilities for treatment. Authorities fear that the number of casualties may rise as several of the wounded are said to be in critical condition.
The explosion caused panic across the market area, damaging nearby shops and structures while forcing traders and residents to flee the scene in fear. Law enforcement agencies immediately cordoned off the area and launched a search operation as investigators began collecting evidence from the blast site.
Police sources said the attack appeared to be a targeted attempt to hit the police vehicle, but the crowded nature of the marketplace led to multiple civilian casualties. Officials are working to determine the exact quantity of explosives used and the method through which the device was detonated.
Authorities have launched a formal investigation into the incident while security has been heightened in and around Wana and adjoining areas. South Waziristan has witnessed sporadic militant attacks in recent months, particularly targeting security forces, raising concerns about the evolving security situation in the region.
