17 killed in suicide bombing outside Pakistan’s Swat police station
ALBAWABA- A suicide bombing outside a police station in Pakistan’s northwestern Swat district killed 17 people, including seven police officers, and injured dozens more, after an attacker detonated explosives at the entrance to the compound on Monday.
The attack targeted the main gate of Kabal Police Station in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, as a public peace rally protesting the recent resurgence of militant violence was taking place nearby at Kabal Chowk.
According to police, the bomber attempted to enter the heavily guarded compound, which houses the police station, police lines and other government offices, but was stopped by security personnel. He detonated his explosives at the entrance after being challenged, preventing him from reaching the interior of the complex and potentially causing far greater casualties.
The death toll rose to 17 on Tuesday after several of the wounded died in hospital. Officials said the victims included seven police personnel and 10 civilians.
Between 18 and 27 people were injured in the blast, with many receiving treatment at Saidu Sharif Teaching Hospital and other medical facilities. Several remained in critical condition. Rescue 1122 teams provided emergency treatment at the scene before transporting the injured to hospitals, while funeral prayers for several of the slain officers were held on Monday.
The Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), which Pakistani authorities refer to as Fitna al-Khawarij, claimed responsibility for the attack in some reports, saying it had targeted security forces.
The Counter Terrorism Department has launched an investigation, collecting forensic evidence, reviewing CCTV footage and searching for suspected accomplices. Authorities have also registered a criminal case and initiated a large-scale security operation across the area.
The bombing comes amid a sharp increase in militant attacks across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, particularly in Swat, where the TTP has stepped up assaults on police stations, security checkpoints and law enforcement personnel.
Monday’s attack coincided with a public demonstration calling for stronger government action against militant groups, reflecting growing frustration over deteriorating security in the region. Swat, once a major TTP stronghold, has witnessed renewed militant activity despite a military campaign that largely dismantled the group’s presence in 2009.
Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur and provincial Governor Faisal Karim Kundi condemned the bombing, vowing to bring those responsible to justice and reaffirming the government’s commitment to continuing operations against militant networks.
