Morning parade turns into mass-casualty attack

Security in Pakistan’s northwest is again under scrutiny after two suicide bombers stormed the headquarters of a key security force in Peshawar, killing at least three officers and injuring more than a dozen others. The attack erupted just as personnel were gathering for the morning parade inside the compound, turning a routine ceremony into a frantic scramble for cover and casualties. Witnesses described a loud explosion at the perimeter gate, followed by bursts of gunfire and a second blast inside the complex. Rescue workers rushed to the scene through cordoned-off streets as sirens echoed across the usually busy central district. Initial reports suggest the attackers tried to breach deeper into the facility, but were stopped by guards at the outer ring.

Investigators are now piecing together how the bombers reached one of the most heavily protected sites in the city. Police say one attacker detonated at the main entrance, while the other was shot before he could fully enter the parade ground, limiting what could have been a much higher death toll. The wounded were taken to nearby hospitals, where several remain in critical condition and officials warned the casualty count could rise. Authorities have launched a search operation across Peshawar for potential facilitators, focusing on safe houses and known militant networks in the province. The region has long seen deadly attacks by hardline groups based along the Afghan border, and security analysts fear the strike signals a renewed effort to hit symbolic state targets. No group immediately claimed responsibility, but officials say the tactics match previous assaults on police and paramilitary bases. The attack is expected to trigger fresh demands for stronger perimeter defences, better intelligence-sharing, and tighter movement controls around sensitive installations, even as residents worry that daily life in the city could again be shaped by roadblocks and checkpoints.