A large number of militants, including suicide bombers, attacked a military checkpost in Lakki Marwat in the wee hours of Saturday, killing 36 people. The dead included 13 security personnel and 11 civilians, while another eight soldiers received injuries in the attack.
Claiming responsibility for the attack, the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) called it a response to the continued US drone strikes in the Tribal Areas. Security forces said around two dozen militants attacked the checkpost around 3am using rocket launchers. The checkpost is located inside the Irrigation Colony in Serai Naurang town.
The injured were rushed to hospitals in Lakki Marwat and Bannu. Security sources said soon after the attack, the security forces cordoned off the area and launched a counterattack, killing 12 militants.
Two of the militants killed in the clash were donning suicide jackets, the sources said. They said there was a possibility that some militants might have escaped after the attack, as the number of attackers was more than 25.
At least 11 civilians were also killed when a suicide bomber entered a local resident’s house to escape the forces’ retaliatory attack. He blew himself up when security forces tried to apprehend him, the sources added. The cross-firing between the militants and security forces continued for more than four hours. The deceased civilians included four children and three women, and 10 of them belonged to the same family. Four houses were also damaged in the bombing. Serai Naurang town had no military camp until a few years ago, but after security situation deteriorated in the area, a security contingent of 200 personnel set up the camp in the town in 2011.