Two civilians killed in Bannu quadcopter attack, police say

Two civilians, including a woman, were killed and two others were injured in a quadcopter attack allegedly carried out by terrorists in the Ping area of Wazir Sub-Division in Bannu on Monday, Bannu District Police Officer (DPO) Captain (retd) Muhammad Furqan Bilal confirmed. According to Bannu police, the operation was conducted under the supervision of DPO Furqan Bilal, with Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) Bannu Region Superintendent of Police Fazal Waheed Khan, relevant Sub-Divisional Police Officers and Station House Officers, district police, Elite Force, CTD personnel and members of the peace committee taking part. Police said the area was cordoned off and the operation continued from morning until afternoon, during which an exchange of fire took place between security personnel and the suspected terrorists. One suspected terrorist was killed during the operation, and his body was recovered, police said. Several other terrorists were also reportedly killed or wounded, although police said their accomplices managed to remove the dead and injured from the area because of the difficult mountainous terrain. Read: Drones open new front against Peshawar police A search and clearance operation was subsequently continued in the area. DPO Furqan Bilal said operations against terrorists would continue with “full force and without discrimination”. He said peace and security would be ensured in Bannu and adjoining areas and that no terrorist would be allowed to threaten the lives or property of residents. The DPO said police remained determined to confront terrorist elements with “full resolve and professionalism”, adding that every possible effort would be made to eliminate the threat and restore lasting peace in the region. Drone attack Drone attacks have emerged as a growing security challenge for police in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, with terrorists increasingly using commercially available drones to conduct surveillance and drop explosives while remaining concealed at a distance. Peshawar police have reported at least two such attacks in recent weeks. A drone attack on the Tarnab police post in the limits of Chamkani police station injured four people, including two policemen and two civilians. Three days later, another drone attack targeted a police station in Mattani, where metal mesh and protective sheets installed as part of security measures prevented the explosives from causing significant damage. According to information available with The Express Tribune, terrorist groups have increasingly used drones in Malakand, Lakki Marwat, Bannu, Karak, Tank, Hangu, Bajaur and Peshawar. Police data suggested that more than 250 attempted drone attacks had been reported in these areas between January and July. Police officials have said the growing availability of high-range drones, combined with shortages of specialised equipment such as anti-drone guns, thermal imaging and night-vision systems, has made the threat increasingly difficult to counter.