A deadly improvised explosive device (IED) blast struck a police vehicle near Wana Bazar in South Waziristan’s Lower district on Wednesday, killing at least five people and injuring nine others, according to official reports.

The explosion occurred in Wakhwan Market, a densely populated commercial area. Among the dead was a police officer, while another law enforcement official was critically injured. Four civilians were also martyred in the blast, and at least eight bystanders sustained injuries. Local police confirmed that the bomb was detonated remotely.

Security officials suspect that the banned militant group Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) was behind the attack. While the group has not formally claimed responsibility, this incident bears the hallmarks of similar past attacks by the TTP in the region.

The act has drawn sharp criticism from local residents and religious leaders, who condemned the TTP for continuing to carry out attacks in the name of religion. “The Fitna al-Khawarij TTP continues to disgrace Islam and bring shame to the entire Muslim Ummah with such cowardly acts,” said a tribal elder who asked not to be named for security reasons.

This is the latest in a string of violent incidents in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s tribal districts, raising renewed concerns about the deteriorating security situation and the safety of civilians in conflict-prone zones.

Security forces have cordoned off the area and launched a search operation to apprehend those responsible.