15 dead after suicide attack in Swat, police force hit hard

Islamabad – A suicide bomber detonated a device outside the Kabal police station in Swat district, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, on August 2, causing 15 fatalities, six of whom were police officers. District Police Officer Mohammad Ome announced that the blast also left 34 civilians injured, with nine sustaining minor wounds and 25 requiring intensive care at Saidu Sharif Teaching Hospital.

Deputy Inspector General Saeed Fida Hussain said that the explosion struck close to police quarters and other government premises, exposing vulnerabilities in the region’s security layout. Four senior police officials were listed among the seriously injured, while two civilians were also hospitalized for severe injuries.

The incident unfolded during a public rally at Kabal Chowk, where hundreds of people had congregated. Security forces responded swiftly, cordoning off the site and initiating a comprehensive search operation to prevent any further threats.

The recent wave of violence follows a deadly assault on the Khajina Banda checkpoint in Hangu district earlier this week, which resulted in nine police deaths and 28 injuries. Both attacks have been tied to the banned terrorist organization popularly referred to by the state as “Fitna al‑Khawarij”, associated with the Terrorist Tehreek‑e‑Taliban Pakistan (TTP).

Inspector General Zulfikar Hameed issued a statement saying police engaged the attackers in a gun‑battle that led to the death of a Deputy Superintendent of Police and eight other officers, with an additional 28 officers wounded.

The provincial government has announced heightened security measures around police facilities and public assembly points while a joint investigative team works to trace the network behind the coordinated bombings.