Suicide bombing in northwestern Pakistan kills 13 civilians, 5 soldiers

On March 4, a suicide bombing involving vehicles loaded with explosives targeted a security facility in northwestern Pakistan, resulting in the deaths of at least 13 civilians, including six children, government bodies said.

The bombing also claimed the lives of five soldiers, the military said, Caliber.Az reports, citing foreign media.

The explosion also caused the roof of a nearby mosque to collapse just after residents had broken their fast during Ramadan, in a busy market area, a military official stated, requesting anonymity.

"The assailants aimed to breach the cantonment's security, but their malicious plans were swiftly and decisively thwarted by the vigilant and resolute actions of Pakistan's security forces," a statement from Pakistan's media agency confirmed on March 5. 

No group immediately claimed responsibility for the attack. In recent years, the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), an Islamist militant organization, has increasingly targeted police and military personnel in regions close to the Afghan border. 

According to the military, the bombing killed 13 civilians. Muhammad Nauman, a spokesperson for a nearby hospital, confirmed that at least 30 others were injured, all of them civilians trapped under fallen debris. The number of children killed was later revised down to six from an earlier report of seven. 

Rescue teams continue to search for additional victims under the rubble, as video footage from the scene showed people digging through piles of bricks and clearing metal scaffolding.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the attack, stating, "The evil ambitions of the enemies of Pakistan will never be allowed to succeed."

By Khagan Isayev