Web Desk: A blast struck a busy market in Pakistan’s South Waziristan district on Saturday, killing two police officers and injuring several others, including civilians and children, local authorities said.
The explosion occurred at Rustam Bazaar in Wana, the main town of South Waziristan Lower, when an improvised explosive device detonated near the gate of a supermarket.
Deputy Superintendent of Police Asghar Ali Shah said the explosive material had been planted near the entrance of the market area.
“The blast killed two police personnel and wounded four others,” Shah said.
Authorities said the attack also injured at least 18 civilians who were present in the market at the time, among them several children.
Rescue teams and security personnel rushed to the site soon after the explosion. Meanwhile, local hospitals began treating the wounded.
Officials declared an emergency at the District Headquarters Hospital in Wana to ensure immediate medical care for the injured.
Doctors and medical staff were mobilized to handle the influx of patients as ambulances transported victims from the blast site.
Security forces cordoned off the area and launched an investigation into the attack. Authorities have not yet released details about those responsible.
However, officials said the attack targeted security personnel stationed near the market while also endangering civilians in the crowded commercial area.
South Waziristan, part of Pakistan’s former tribal districts bordering Afghanistan, has witnessed periodic militant violence despite security operations carried out in the region over the past decade.
