PESHAWAR (AP) – Two suicide bombings breached a wall at a military base in northwestern Pakistan before other attackers stormed the compound and were repelled in violence that killed at least 12 people and wounded 30 others, according to officials and a local hospital.
A group affiliated with the Pakistani Taleban claimed responsibility for the attack in Bannu, in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, and said that dozens of members of Pakistani security forces were killed.
The group didn’t immediately confirm any casualties, but Bannu District Hospital said that at least a dozen people were dead.
The two suicide bombers blew themselves up near the wall of the sprawling military area, a security official said on condition of anonymity, because he wasn’t authorised to speak with reporters.
“After a breach in the wall, five to six more attackers attempted to enter the cantonment, but were eliminated,” the security official said.
The attack happened after sunset, when people would have been breaking their fast during the Muslim holy month of Ramadhan.
Jaish Al-Fursan claimed responsibility for the attack, the third assault in Pakistan since Ramadhan started Sunday. In a statement, the group said the source of the blasts were explosive-laden vehicles.
Plumes of gray smoke rose into the air and gunshots continued after the two explosions, police officer Zahid Khan said.
Four of those killed were children, hospital officials said. The victims lived close to the scene of the blasts.
A spokesman for Bannu District Hospital, Muhammad Noman, said that the evening blasts badly damaged homes and other buildings.
“The roofs and walls collapsed and that’s why we are receiving casualties,” he said.
