Bannu Girls’ School Blown Up as Bridge Bomb Plot Foiled

BANNU: Unidentified attackers targeted education and public transport infrastructure in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa’s Bannu district, damaging a government girls’ school and attempting to destroy a key bridge in two separate incidents reported on July 3.

The first attack took place in Mama Khel village in the Khairki area of Tehsil Hassan Khel, where explosive material was planted inside a Government Girls Middle School under cover of darkness. The explosion damaged parts of the building, including classroom walls, windows and doors, but no students or staff were present at the time.

Local residents said the blast caused fear in the surrounding community, especially among parents already concerned about the safety of girls’ education in areas vulnerable to militancy. Police and security personnel reached the site soon after the incident, sealed the area and began collecting evidence.

Officials said the likely purpose of the school attack was to spread panic, disrupt education and undermine confidence in state-run institutions. Authorities also began assessing the structural damage so that the school’s repair needs and security requirements could be determined.

A second incident was reported in the Bachki area of Jani Khel, where explosives had allegedly been placed beneath an important link bridge. Security forces and bomb disposal personnel responded quickly and successfully defused the device before it could be detonated.

Security sources said the bridge attack could have caused major disruption to local movement and potentially led to casualties had the explosives not been detected and neutralised in time. The route is considered important for residents who depend on link roads and bridges for travel, trade, emergency access and daily movement.

The twin attacks come amid recurring security concerns in parts of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, where schools, police posts and public infrastructure have previously been targeted by militant or sabotage networks. Girls’ schools have often carried symbolic importance because they represent state authority, community development and the right of young women to education.

For Bannu and nearby districts, the incidents underline the pressure facing local administrations as they try to protect schools, roads and essential services while keeping normal life running. Even limited damage to education facilities can interrupt classes, discourage attendance and deepen anxiety among families.

Law enforcement agencies have registered cases and launched investigations to identify those responsible for the two attacks. The immediate next steps are expected to include forensic examination of the explosives, enhanced security checks around vulnerable sites and coordination with local communities to prevent further attacks on schools and public infrastructure.