DERA ISMAIL KHAN, Pakistan—Thousands of people poured onto the streets of Bannu in northwestern Pakistan for the funerals on March 5 of 18 people, including six children, killed in a suicide attack on a security installation.
Suicide bombers drove two vehicles packed with explosives into the town’s military base in an attack staged by more than a dozen terrorists on March 4.
The military said in a statement that the multiple suicide blasts caused a partial collapse of the compound’s outer wall, damaging nearby infrastructure. A nearby mosque and residential building were also severely damaged, it added.
At least 13 civilians and five soldiers were killed in the attack, the military said. Muhammad Nauman, a spokesperson for a nearby hospital, said six children were among those killed and that 36 others were wounded.
Abdullah Khan, a 46-year-old resident of Banu who runs a livestock business, said it was the largest funeral ever seen in the town.
Riaz Wazir, a 46-year-old shopkeeper who also attended the funeral, said that, in addition to the loss of life, the blasts had caused substantial damage and financial loss.
“Buildings that have fallen are destroyed. Those that have not fallen are dangerous because of explosions; any accident can happen,” he said.
The military said four suicide bombers were among 16 terrorists also killed in the attack.
There was no immediate claim of responsibility.
Pakistan is battling a surge in attacks by its own chapter of the Taliban movement, known as Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, on police and military in areas near the Afghan border.
Images from video footage of the scene showed people sifting through piles of bricks and clearing metal scaffolding.
Nauman, the hospital spokesperson, said a number of the civilians who died were trapped under collapsed buildings and walls.
Rescue services were searching for more people under the debris.
“The evil ambitions of the enemies of Pakistan will never be allowed to succeed,” Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said in a statement condemning the attack.
