Suicide Bombers Kill Three Officers in Pakistan
A coordinated suicide attack on the Federal Constabulary headquarters in Peshawar early on Monday left three security officers dead and more than a dozen people injured, according to police and local media.
Authorities say the assault began when one bomber set off explosives at the main gate. Two others attempted to push further into the compound but were reportedly shot dead by guards. Peshawar’s police chief Saeed Ahmad said a large group of personnel had gathered inside for morning drills, adding: “The terrorists involved in today’s attack were on foot and failed to reach the parade area and a timely response by our forces prevented a much larger tragedy.”
Conflicting early reports suggested there were either two or three bombers, but all were killed before entering the complex. Officers stationed at the gate were among those who died in the blast, and several civilians were also wounded. Hospitals in the city were placed on emergency footing, though officials said those taken to the hospital were all in stable condition.
No organisation has yet claimed responsibility. The Pakistani Taliban, or Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, has been behind similar attacks, and the surge in violence has deepened tensions between Islamabad and Afghanistan’s Taliban authorities. Pakistan maintains that militants have been operating from Afghanistan since the 2021 takeover. The region has seen a rise in militant attacks in recent months, and officials noted the attackers would have had to breach several layers of security just to reach the entrance.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the attack, calling it a “foiled terrorist plot” and saying: “The perpetrators of this incident should be identified as soon as possible and brought to justice.” President Asif Ali Zardari also “strongly” denounced the assault, offering “heartfelt condolences” and commending the bravery of security forces.
