At least three people sustained injuries after an explosive device planted on a motorbike detonated in Pakistan's restive Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province on Friday, news agency PTI reported, citing police. The incident took place at Darazinda area of Dera Ismail Khan district.
According to PTI, the blast originated from a motorbike laden with explosives that was parked in front of a hotel. The explosion resulted in injuries to three passersby in the vicinity, police said, adding that one of the injured persons is in critical condition.
Heavy contingents of police rushed to the site and cordoned off the entire area following the blast. The number of injuries was confirmed by Yaqoob Khan, the spokesperson of Dera Ismail Khan District Police Officer Abdul Rauf. He told Dwan that the injured were moved to the District Headquarters Hospital, and the condition of one was critical.
“Four shops and three motorcycles in the locality suffered severe damages,” Khan said, as quoted by Dawn. He further stated that a large contingent of police arrived at the scene soon after the blast was reported. Khan stated that the area had been cordoned off and an investigation was underway.
Following the incident, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government ordered a day-long closure of the district’s Gomal University. “In pursuance of the directives of the Higher Education Department […] the Gomal University will remain closed on February 23, 2024,” a notification issued by the institution said, as quoted by Dawn.
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Pakistan has recently seen an increase in terror activities, especially in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, following the outlawed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) ended its ceasefire with the government in November 2022, news agency ANI reported, citing ARY News.
Earlier on Saturday, one policeman was injured in a terrorist attack that took place in Pakistan's Dera Ismail Khan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.