At least six people were killed and more than 12 injured in a suicide bomb attack during a wedding ceremony in Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province. The incident took place late Friday night in Dera Ismail Khan district. The attack took place at the residence of Aman (Peace) Committee chief Noor Alam Mehsud, where the wedding ceremony was underway. There was chaos at the spot after the explosion. The injured were immediately admitted to nearby hospitals. Noor Alam Mehsud himself was also injured in the attack.
According to police, initial investigations indicate it appears to be a suicide attack. The attackers reportedly opened fire after the blast. Forensic and investigation teams remained at the scene for several hours. According to local media reports, the head of the suicide bomber, believed to be around 17 years old, was recovered from the scene and has been taken into custody for identification and DNA testing. KP Chief Minister Sohail Afridi strongly condemned the attack, demanding an immediate report from the provincial police chief, and directed that the injured be provided with the best medical care.
He said those responsible for this “unfortunate” incident would be brought to justice. It is worth noting that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, which border Afghanistan, have been the worst affected by terrorist violence in recent years. Noor Alam Mehsud had previously been the target of a suicide attack in 2022, which was foiled by his supporters. According to the Centre for Research and Security Studies, violence in Pakistan increased by more than 25 percent last year. Nearly 68 percent of the total 3,187 deaths occurred in KP province alone, making it the worst-affected region in the country.