Peshawar, a city in northwestern Pakistan, held funeral prayers and a day of mourning on Wednesday after a terrible twin suicide bombing at a military base the night before. This attack killed 18 people, including five soldiers, and injured 42 others, many of whom are in critical condition. The group responsible is linked to the Pakistani Taliban and is called Jaish Al-Fursan.
The attack happened when two suicide bombers exploded their cars at the base’s walls. Many local residents were breaking their fast for Ramadan or praying in a nearby mosque when the blasts happened. The explosions not only tore off roofs but also heavily damaged the mosque.
After the explosions, other attackers entered the military area and started shooting at soldiers. The military reported that in total, five soldiers and 16 militants lost their lives. Security forces were still searching the area early Wednesday for any remaining attackers.
At the bombing site, workers were clearing away rubble where homes used to be, and prayer mats were found on the floor of the damaged mosque. A community elder named Alam Khan said a day of mourning was taking place, and group funeral prayers were held in a sports complex. Schools and most shops were closed that day. Rescue workers finished their efforts by recovering the bodies of three worshippers who were trapped when the mosque roof fell.
Bannu is in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, which borders Afghanistan, where many armed groups operate. This isn’t the first time Bannu has been attacked; last November, a suicide car bomb killed 12 troops, and in July, another suicide bomber targeted the military facility.
On the same day, a bomb exploded in Nal, a town in southwestern Balochistan, killing three people and injuring five. Authorities suspect the attack was done by people fighting for Balochistan’s independence.
Additionally, in Peshawar, a drive-by shooting killed an intelligence officer named Shahid Anwar while he was heading to work. The attacker escaped on a motorcycle.
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