PESHAWAR: A Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) officer was martyred and two others were injured on Sunday after an explosion ripped through a CTD police station in Peshawar, officials confirmed.
According to Peshawar Capital City Police Officer (CCPO) Mian Saeed, initial investigations suggest the blast occurred in the station’s armoury, where old explosive materials were kept.
“The explosion appears to have been caused by the detonation of old explosives stored in the armoury,” CCPO Saeed said.
He added that the fire spread to other sections of the depot, igniting additional munitions and triggering secondary explosions, which caused part of the building to collapse.
“One CTD officer was martyred, and two others were injured. All detainees were safely evacuated from the lock-up,” the CCPO confirmed, adding that the incident did not appear to be an act of terrorism.
Read More: Khawaja Asif Strongly Rebukes Misleading Statement by Afghan Taliban Spokesperson
Following the explosion, police cordoned off the area, while teams from the Bomb Disposal Unit (BDU), Rescue 1122, and the fire brigade launched operations to control the blaze and clear debris.
“The clearance operation is underway,” CCPO Saeed said, noting that efforts were focused on ensuring no unexploded ordnance remained inside the building.
Firefighters battled the flames for several hours before bringing the situation under control.
A special CTD investigation team, led by SSP CTD, arrived at the scene to collect forensic evidence and examine the cause of the blast.
Police officials said statements from personnel present during the explosion were being recorded, while teams were also reviewing CCTV footage from surrounding areas to establish the sequence of events.
“We are collecting all available materials from the debris and examining footage to determine precisely what triggered the blast,” said an official involved in the investigation.
