BANNU: A police official was martyred and five people, including a policeman, were injured after an explosives-laden vehicle exploded near Merian Police Station in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Bannu district on Wednesday evening, triggering an exchange of fire between security forces and attackers.

According to District Police Officer (DPO) Furqan Bilal, the attackers attempted to storm the police station immediately after the blast, but police personnel responded swiftly, foiling the assault.

Following the explosion, security forces engaged the attackers in a gun battle before securing the area.

The injured were shifted to the District Headquarters (DHQ) Hospital in Bannu, where they received medical treatment.

A search and clearance operation was launched after the attack, while the area was cordoned off by security personnel.

Bannu Division Commissioner Captain (retd) Khalid Mahmood, DIG Bannu Region Rab Nawaz Khan, Deputy Commissioner Muhammad Faheem, Assistant Commissioners Allah Nawaz Khan, Ikhlas Saleem and Sajjad Hussain later visited the DHQ Hospital to inquire about the condition of the injured.

The funeral prayer of the martyred police official was offered with full state honours at the Bannu Police Lines. Senior civil and military officials, police officers and personnel, along with a large number of citizens, attended the ceremony.

The fallen officer was presented a guard of honour, with officials paying tribute to his sacrifice for the country’s peace and security.