Two police officers were injured after a roadside bomb exploded near a police vehicle in Peshawar, the capital of Pakistan’s northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, police said. The explosive device had been planted in a green belt along GT Road and was believed to have been intended for a passing police patrol. Three officers were inside the vehicle when the blast occurred.
Peshawar Capital City Police Officer Dr. Mian Saeed Ahmed said the improvised explosive device had been planted in a roadside green belt near Pir Zakori Bridge. He said the bomb appeared to have been aimed at a police vehicle traveling on GT Road. Two of the three officers inside the vehicle were injured in the explosion.
The injured officers were identified as constables Haider Ali and Yousaf. They were taken to Lady Reading Hospital for treatment. Police said the vehicle was on routine patrol and was near Pir Zakori Bridge when the blast occurred.
Following the explosion, police cordoned off the area. Ahmed visited the site to inspect the security situation and review the evidence collected by investigators. Officials said forensic teams are examining the scene from multiple angles to identify those responsible for the attack.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Faisal Karim Kundi condemned the blast and wished the injured officers a speedy recovery. He directed authorities to submit an immediate report and ensure the best possible medical care for the wounded officers. Kundi said those trying to disrupt peace in the province would not succeed and added that the sacrifices made by security forces in the fight against militancy would always be remembered.
No group immediately claimed responsibility for the attack. Militant groups, including Islamic State Khorasan Province, Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan and Jamaat-ul-Ahrar, have long been active in the region and have frequently targeted security forces, government officials and public installations.
