At least two people, including a child, were killed and around 20 others injured in a bomb explosion outside Miryan police station in Bannu on Monday, officials said.
According to police, militants rammed an explosives-laden three-wheeler into the main gate of the police station. At the same time, an improvised explosive device (IED) planted on a motorcycle parked near nearby shops also detonated, causing panic in the area.
Officials said shops were open outside the police station when the blast occurred, which is why several civilians were caught in the explosion.
DIG Bannu Sajjad Khan confirmed that police personnel remained safe. However, two civilians, including a child, lost their lives. Rescue teams shifted the injured to nearby hospitals, where an emergency was declared.
Police and other law enforcement agencies rushed to the scene soon after the explosion. Authorities cordoned off the area and launched a search operation to trace those responsible.
Officials said an investigation is under way and vowed to arrest the perpetrators.
In a related incident, militants targeted a Frontier Corps team attempting to recover injured personnel after a quadcopter drone strike on an FC post in the region. Two soldiers were martyred and five others injured in firing and a subsequent blast.
The martyred personnel were identified as Lance Naik Basit and Sepoy Ismatullah. The injured included Naib Subedar Zahid, Naik Mudassar, Sepoy Asghar, Havaldar Shah Pur Khan, and Lance Naik Jan.