BANNU: A suicide blast struck Bannu district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa early Tuesday morning.
The explosion occurred near the Doa Ghoda Bridge in the Surani area, within the limits of Basia Khel Police Station.
Officials said the blast caused brief panic but no casualties or property damage.
Police said a motorcyclist carried out the attack and detonated explosives strapped to his body. The device went off on the roadside, away from populated areas, which limited the damage.
Security personnel cordoned off the scene and collected forensic evidence. Investigators are examining the type of explosives and any links to militant groups active in the region.
Police on patrol had noticed the motorcyclist’s suspicious movements moments before the blast. The attacker triggered the device after realizing he had been detected, officials said.
Residents reported hearing a loud explosion and a temporary disruption in traffic. Authorities said the motive remains unclear but stressed that such attacks will not hinder security efforts.
Bannu has seen repeated security incidents in recent years. Officials said better intelligence-sharing has helped reduce major attacks.
Last week on Saturday, security forces had carried out an intellegnece-based operation in Bannu and killed 15 terrorists associated with Fitna al Khawarij.
According to the reports, the militants were hiding in an abandoned house in the Domel area of the district that they had monitored for a month. Intelligence reports confirmed the presence of militants who were using the site to plan and launch attacks in nearby areas.
