Pakistan's Lakki Marwat IED blast kills 7, injures dozens

An improvised explosive device detonated at the Naurang Bazaar market in Lakki Marwat district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on 12 May 2026, killing at least seven people, including two traffic police officers, and injuring between 15 and 23 others. The explosion shattered shop windows and overturned three‑wheelers, prompting a panicked rush for safety.

Police spokesperson Kudratullah Khan said, "It is not yet clear whether the device was attached to a rickshaw or a suicide attacker set themselves off," as bomb‑defusal teams worked to determine the blast’s nature. Provincial Chief Minister Sohail Afriadi ordered a full investigation and promised assistance to the victims’ families. Security forces have sealed off the area and launched a search operation, amid reports that terrorist attacks have risen in the region since the 2022 ceasefire collapse.

Authorities are investigating possible links to cross‑border militant groups, while medical teams continue to treat the wounded at local hospitals.