A police officer was martyred in a suicide explosion today (25 July) in a bid to thwart a suicide attack at Ali Mosque in Jamrud area of Khyber district. As per details police got an intelligence report about presence of two suspected terrorists at the mosque on which Additional Station House Officer (SHO) Adnan Afridi,rushed to the spot and made a valiant effort to neutralise the suspected terrorist at the empty mosque. The terrorist detonated his explosives when the courageous police officer entered the roadside mosque. The accomplice of the suicide bomber was said to have fled the scene following the bombing. Law enforcement personnel are investigating and trying to nab the terrorist who fled.

The K-P Inspector General of Police (IGP) eulogised the selfless and swift actions of the police personnel at the scene, including Additional SHO Adnan Afridi who sacrificed his life on duty.

The suicide explosion is the latest in a series of bombings targeting police and security personnel in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. Five days ago, three policemen and a civilian were martyred after two suicide bombers disguised in police uniforms targeted a Tehsil Offices Compound in Khyber district’s Bara area.

As pointed out in the TSB’s  ‘Terrorism at a Glance’, ‘at least 9 policemen have been killed and 12 others injured by the terrorists during the last one week in KPK. There is a clear strategy of the terrorists to target police in order to undermine morale of the police force and the people of the province, especially the tribal areas. The use of suicide bombers after a long lull indicates their desperation. Afghan Taliban must be apprised of this attack with a caution to bridle the terrorists operating from Afghan soil.