At least seven people were martyred and three others injured in two separate explosions in the Merka Bera area of Bannu on June 20, 2026, according to local police authorities.

District Police Officer Yasir Afridi said the first explosion occurred when explosives planted along a roadside detonated and struck a passenger van travelling from Hathi Khel village to Bannu city.Five passengers lost their lives in the blast.Shortly afterwards, a second explosion took place at the same location while rescue efforts were underway.Two individuals participating in the rescue operation were martyred in the second blast, and a vehicle was also damaged.Three people sustained injuries during the attacks.The deceased and injured were shifted to Khalifa Gul Nawaz Teaching Hospital for treatment and completion of legal formalities.Security officials have launched an investigation to determine the circumstances of the incident and identify those responsible.The attack comes amid ongoing security concerns in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

The report notes that Bannu has witnessed previous militant attacks, including a suicide bombing in April 2026 that killed at least five people and injured several others.

Pakistani security forces have continued counter-terrorism operations in the region, particularly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, where authorities say militant activity has increased in recent years.

Officials maintain that security operations against militant groups remain ongoing as efforts continue to improve law and order and prevent further attacks.