Pakistan’s Bannu city witnessed plumes of smoke after twin suicide bombings at the military compound killed at least nine and left over 25 injured on Tuesday.
A Pakistani Taliban-affiliated group claimed responsibility for the attack. The blasts occurred after sunset, coinciding with the time people were breaking their fast during Ramadan.
“The death toll now stands at nine, including three children and two women. At least 20 others were injured in both blasts,” a senior police official said as quoted by AFP.
“Apart from two suicides, six militants were shot dead in an exchange of fire,” he added.
The official, speaking anonymously, said the two suicide bombers detonated near the perimeter wall of the sprawling military complex in Bannu.
Jaish Al-Fursan claimed responsibility for the attack, marking the third militant assault in Pakistan since Ramadan began on Sunday. In a statement, the group said the blasts were caused by explosives-laden vehicles.
Bannu has been repeatedly targeted by militants, including a suicide car bombing last November that killed 12 troops and injured several others. In July, a similar attack involved a suicide bomber detonating an explosives-laden vehicle while gunmen opened fire near the military facility’s outer wall.