At least 17 people were killed and more than 30 injured in a suspected suicide bombing outside a police station in the Kabal area of Swat district, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, Pakistan, on Sunday. The attack occurred amid a pro-police rally in the same vicinity, although authorities have not confirmed whether the rally was the specific target.

According to a spokesperson for Rescue 1122, the number of fatalities increased from an initial 14 after three victims succumbed to their injuries in hospital. Among those killed were seven police officers and 10 civilians. A regional police official identified the suicide bomber as Fida Hussain.

The Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), a militant Islamist group, claimed responsibility for the attack in a statement. Following the explosion, police launched an operation aimed at apprehending individuals who may have assisted in carrying out the bombing.

Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif expressed profound grief and sorrow over the incident, condemning the attack in a public statement.

Militant activity in Pakistan’s border regions has escalated sharply in recent months, with security forces increasingly targeted. The Pakistani government has accused the Afghan Taliban of supporting the militant groups responsible for the surge in violence. However, the Taliban, who currently govern Afghanistan, have denied these allegations.

The incident underscores continuing security challenges in northwest Pakistan, where insurgent groups remain active despite ongoing military operations. The authorities have stressed the importance of maintaining law and order amid the heightened threats to both civilians and security personnel.