Bomb blast in Lakki Marwat, Pakistan kills at least nine

On May 12, 2026, a bomb hidden on a rickshaw detonated in a bazaar in Lakki Marwat district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan, killing at least nine people and wounding more than twenty. Police said the explosion appeared to target traffic police officers; two officers were among the injured and a woman was also killed.

No group immediately claimed responsibility. Authorities suspect the Tehrik‑e‑Taliban Pakistan (Pakistani Taliban), which has intensified attacks on security forces, though the group denied involvement. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the attack, expressed condolences to victims’ families, and ordered a swift investigation, emphasizing the government's resolve to combat terrorism.

The incident underscores ongoing tension between Pakistan and Afghanistan. Islamabad accuses the Afghan Taliban government of sheltering militants who launch cross‑border attacks, an allegation Kabul has rejected. Sporadic fighting along the border has continued despite China‑mediated peace talks in early April.