Quadcopter attack in KP's Bannu injures 8, including women

BANNU: A powerful explosion, following the reported crash of a quadcopter drone, injured eight people, including women, in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Bannu district on Friday night. Security agencies immediately launched an investigation into the matter as panic spread in the area. According to police, the drone flew into the area from an unknown location and exploded shortly after falling near a residential area, leaving several people injured. Local residents rushed to the scene and shifted the injured to the District Headquarters Hospital Bannu after initially providing first aid. The administration at the District Headquarters Hospital confirmed that all injured individuals are receiving medical treatment, while some are said to be in critical condition. Meanwhile, security sources said the incident is being investigated from multiple angles to determine the nature of the explosion, the origin of the drone, and possible motives. Local residents expressed deep concern over the incident and urged the government and relevant authorities to conduct an immediate inquiry, identify those responsible, and ensure the protection of civilians. Last Friday, a suspected cross-border quadcopter strike from Afghanistan wounded two Pakistani personnel. Officials said a quadcopter targeted a security post in Baizai tehsil, in KP’s Mohmand district. Bannu district has been the scene of repeated security incidents in recent months, with both civilians and local security forces coming under attack amid a broader surge in militant violence. Violence in Bannu has included attacks on police and jirga members, prompting targeted operations by police and security forces in various localities to disrupt militant networks.