At least seven people were killed and three others injured in two roadside bomb explosions in the Marka Bera area of Bannu district in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Saturday, police said.

According to District Police Officer (DPO) Yasir Afridi, the first blast occurred when a passenger vehicle carrying villagers from Hathi Khel to Bannu city passed over an explosive device concealed along the roadside.

The explosion killed five passengers on the spot and left several others injured.

Shortly after the initial blast, a second explosion occurred when local residents and rescuers gathered at the scene to assist the victims. Two more people were killed in the second blast.

Police said the attackers had likely used a remote-controlled or improvised explosive device (IED) to target the civilian vehicle.

Authorities said a government officer’s vehicle was also caught in the impact of the explosions and sustained significant damage. However, the officer remained unharmed.

Security forces and rescue teams rushed to the site immediately after receiving reports of the incident and shifted the deceased and injured to a nearby teaching hospital.

Hospital officials said some of the injured were children and were receiving medical treatment.

Following the attack, law enforcement agencies cordoned off the area and launched a large-scale search operation to collect evidence and track down those responsible.

The attack drew strong condemnation from government officials.

Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi denounced the targeting of innocent civilians and children, describing the act as barbaric.

“Targeting innocent people and children is an act of brutality. These barbaric Khawarij terrorists do not deserve any leniency,” the minister said.

Authorities have launched an investigation into the incident, while security measures in the area have been further tightened.