Car Bomb Attack on Band Korai Police Station in Dera Ismail Khan Foiled

Dera Ismail Khan: An attack described as the alleged largest terrorist attack in the history of Dera Ismail Khan has been foiled. Unidentified militants launched a major assault at about 2am last night on the police station in Band Korai, in Paharpur tehsil, using a Suzuki van loaded with explosives. However, the timely and effective response by police prevented the attackers from entering the station, and they fled.

According to initial reports, between 600 and 800 kilograms of explosive material were used in the attack. Official confirmation of this figure is still awaited.

The militants detonated the explosive-laden Suzuki van, parked near the main gate of the police station, by remote control. The force of the blast damaged the station’s main gate, a nearby mosque, walls and various parts of the building.

Immediately after the explosion, a heavy exchange of fire broke out between the militants and police, which continued for a considerable time. The militants also fired mortar shells, but fortunately they did not explode. Police personnel bravely fought back and stopped the militants from entering the station.

On receiving news of the incident, the SP Paharpur, DSP City Hafiz Muhammad Adnan and SP CTD Muhammad Iftikhar Shah reached the scene with police contingents and supervised the operation. The militants fled, taking advantage of the darkness and the dense forest.

A few police personnel were slightly injured in the attack. They were rushed to hospital, where they received medical treatment and were discharged. A case has been registered at the CTD police station against unidentified attackers.

After the incident, the RPO Dera Range, Ghulam Mubashir Mekan, and the DPO Dera, Zia-ud-Din Ahmad, visited the Band Korai police station. They inspected the damaged building and the site of the incident, met police personnel and praised the officers for foiling the attack.

Local residents also cooperated fully with the police during the attack. They fought militants shoulder to shoulder with police personnel and pursued the fleeing attackers.

Because of its nature, the intensity of the blast and the alleged use of a large quantity of explosives, the attack is being described as an unprecedented incident in terms of the security situation in Dera Ismail Khan.