Pakistan suicide attack on police station kills 14, including eight civilians

At least 14 people were killed in a suicide bombing outside a police station in Pakistan's northwestern Swat district, according to rescue teams and a local police official. The blast occurred in the Kabal area of Swat district, within the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.

Local residents had gathered for a rally in support of the police on the day of the attack. However, it remains unclear whether this gathering was the intended target. Fida Hussain, a district police official, reported that five police officers and eight civilians were among the victims. The 14th fatality is believed to be the suicide bomber.

At least 18 people were injured in the explosion, according to a police statement. The statement also indicated that an operation has been launched to apprehend anyone who may have assisted in the attack. Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif expressed his "deep sorrow and grief over the suicide bombing."

Insurgent activity in Pakistan's border regions has significantly increased in recent months, with the military and police being frequent targets. The Pakistani government attributes the escalation of violence to the Afghan Taliban, accusing them of providing support to the militants. The Taliban government, however, has denied these accusations.

A tweet from Shafek Koreshe reported an explosion at a Peace Rally in Swat's Kabal area, with initial reports indicating several injuries, mostly among police personnel. The tweet noted that members of the local Peace Jirga have often been targeted in the restive Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.

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deep sorrow and grief over the suicide bombing.