Security forces recover three hand grenades along with homemade IED, fuse and explosive material from suicide bombers
A police officer stands guard on a street with damaged shops in the background in Bannu Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa. Photo: AFP
The Counter-Terrorism Branch of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, in collaboration with the Elite Force and Bajaur Police, arrested an Afghan suicide bomber and his local leader during a joint operation in Bajaur.
According to CTD, SWAT teams, Elite Force personnel and local police were already deployed on a search-and-strike mission when intelligence reports indicated the presence of two suspicious individuals in a nearby dry stream. Following the tip-off, the teams conducted a targeted raid and apprehended the suspects.
Police said both suspects tried to flee after seeing the security personnel, but were arrested after a coordinated manhunt. Initial investigations revealed that the detainees were planning a major terrorist attack.
The suicide bomber was identified as Qais, son of Shah Khan, a resident of Wucha Wana and originally from Olsoli Charbolak in Afghanistan’s Balkh province. His facilitator was identified as Rafiullah, son of Noor Muhammad, resident of Bajaur.
Security personnel recovered three hand grenades from the suspects along with a homemade Improvised Explosive Device (IED), fuse and explosive material. The IED, officials said, had been wrapped in a blue bag and carried by the suicide bomber.
