At least seven people were killed and three others injured in twin roadside explosions in Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province on Saturday, police said.
The blasts occurred in the Marka Bera area of Bannu district, a region that has witnessed repeated security incidents in recent years.
According to Bannu District Police Officer Yasir Afridi, the first explosion took place when an improvised explosive device (IED) planted along a roadside detonated as a passenger van was passing by. Five people were killed on the spot in the blast.
A second explosion occurred shortly afterwards at the same location, targeting individuals who had gathered to assist in rescue efforts following the first attack.
Two more people were killed in the second blast, while a vehicle was damaged and several others sustained injuries.
Police said the passenger van was travelling from Hathi Khel village to Bannu city when it was struck by the explosion.
The injured were shifted to a nearby hospital for treatment, while the bodies of the deceased were taken for medico-legal procedures.
No group has claimed responsibility for the attacks so far.
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Security forces and law enforcement personnel cordoned off the area immediately after the explosions and launched a search operation. Investigators have begun collecting evidence from the blast site as part of efforts to determine those responsible.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi condemned the incident and directed police authorities to submit a detailed report. He also ordered a comprehensive investigation into the circumstances surrounding the blasts.
Describing the incident as "highly tragic" and "heartbreaking", the chief minister expressed condolences to the families of the victims and assured them of government support.
He further instructed authorities to ensure the best possible medical care for those injured in the attacks.
"The provincial government will not leave the affected families alone in this hour of grief," Afridi said.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Faisal Karim Kundi also condemned the explosions and expressed sympathy with the victims' families.
The latest incident highlights continuing security challenges in parts of northwest Pakistan, where attacks involving improvised explosive devices and militant violence have remained a concern for authorities.
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