Woman killed, police station damaged in twin air attacks in Bannu

In a concerning escalation of terrorism, twin drone attacks struck two separate police stations in the Bannu district, killing one civilian and injuring three children, 24NewsHD TV channel reported on Wednesday.

According to police sources, terrorists used bomb-laden quadcopters to carry out air raids on police stations in the Bannu district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.

One of the drones mistakenly dropped a bomb on a civilian house within the jurisdiction of Police Station Hadeed, resulting in the death of a woman and injuries to three children.

The second attack targeted the Miryan Police Station, where a bomb was dropped directly on the premises. The blast damaged the police station's solar power system, though no casualties were reported in this strike.

This marks the third drone attack on Miryan Police Station, raising serious concerns over the increasing use of unmanned aerial vehicles by terrorist groups in the region.

Two weeks earlier, officials in KP had emphasised the urgent need for an anti-drone system following similar incidents involving quadcopters.

While senior officials initially described the drone as small and the first of its kind, the recurring nature of these attacks signals an alarming new trend in militant tactics.

Security sources confirm that KP police currently lack anti-drone capabilities, including detection systems or drone-countering guns.

Police authorities have formally recommended the procurement of anti-drone technologies to counter such threats.

Recent reports indicate that terrorist groups have used drones to target public spaces in southern KP, including North Waziristan.

Experts warn that drones may be employed for a wider range of malicious activities, from bombings to surveillance and supply drops for militants.

The authorities also revealed that Punjab province has already deployed such systems, despite facing a lower threat level compared to KP.

Reporter: Abdul Qayyum Wazir