Suicide Attack on Pakistan Police Station Kills 14, Injures 18 in Swat

SWAT, Pakistan: At least 14 people, including police officials, were killed and 18 others injured in a suicide bombing at Kabal police station in Pakistan’s Swat Valley on Sunday, police and rescue officials said.

Swat police spokesperson Nasir Iqbal Karimi confirmed the death toll, while Malakand Division Deputy Inspector General of Police Fida Hussain said several police personnel were among those killed.

Swat District Police Officer (DPO) Umar Khan said the suicide bomber detonated explosives after police personnel attempted to stop and search him at the entrance of the police station.

Another body, believed to be that of the attacker, was recovered and taken to a hospital, officials said.

The powerful explosion occurred near the gate of Kabal police station as hundreds of people were attending a public demonstration at nearby Kabal Chowk against a recent rise in terrorist attacks in the Swat Valley.

Rescue 1122 spokesperson Bilal Ahmed Faizi said the bodies of nine victims were shifted to Central Hospital Saidu Sharif, while five others were taken to Kabal Hospital, where doctors confirmed their deaths. Two of the injured were reported to be in critical condition.

Following the blast, security forces sealed off the area, launched a search operation, and began collecting evidence as part of an investigation. No group has so far claimed responsibility for the attack.

The attack caused panic among protesters as it occurred while the final speaker at the gathering was addressing the crowd. Speakers at the demonstration had condemned the resurgence of terrorism in Swat and called on authorities to take stronger action to restore peace and security in the region.

One speaker said residents wanted a future free from violence, stressing that families had suffered years of bloodshed and that children deserved education and communities deserved peace.

Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari expressed grief over the loss of lives and called for a comprehensive investigation into the bombing. He directed authorities to ensure the best possible medical treatment for the injured.

Zardari said terrorists would not succeed in undermining peace, national unity, and the authority of the state, praising the sacrifices of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa police.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Faisal Karim Kundi and Chief Minister Sohail Afridi also condemned the attack, saying acts of terrorism would not weaken the resolve of the nation.

The chief minister sought a detailed report from the provincial police chief and offered condolences to the families of the victims.

The attack comes amid increasing militant activity in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. Earlier on Sunday, an improvised explosive device (IED) blast near the Peshawar-Islamabad motorway toll plaza injured two policemen in Peshawar.

According to security assessments, the province has witnessed a sharp rise in terrorism-related incidents, with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa recording a significant increase in casualties in recent months.