A bomb tears through Bajaur market in northwest Pakistan, killing seven and injuring at least nine

Blood stained the streets of Bajaur on Sunday after a bomb exploded in a bustling market in northwest Pakistan, leaving seven people dead and at least nine injured. The blast struck suddenly, tearing through the crowd with unforgiving force and plunging the area into chaos.

The explosion, which ripped through a packed section of the district, sent bodies flying and left twisted metal, broken stalls, and pools of blood in its wake. Witnesses described scenes of panic as survivors screamed for help, dragging the wounded away from the smoking wreckage. Some tried to resuscitate loved ones on the spot, while others frantically searched for missing family members.

Hospital officials confirmed that 16 injured people arrived following the blast. Despite the efforts of emergency staff, seven succumbed to their wounds. “We did everything we could,” one hospital administrator said, their voice heavy with exhaustion and sorrow. “But the injuries were too severe.”

Authorities have not yet determined the nature of the blast. Investigations remain ongoing, with security forces sealing off the area and searching for clues. No group has claimed responsibility for the bombing.

The attack has rattled the Bajaur district, a region long troubled by militant activity due to its proximity to the Afghan border. Though security operations have largely subdued large-scale insurgent movements in recent years, this latest incident reveals the fragile nature of peace in the area.

Local residents expressed both anger and fear in the aftermath. “Why does this keep happening to us?” shouted one man as he surveyed the damage. “We are ordinary people trying to live our lives. This was a market, for God’s sake!”

The blast struck during peak hours, with the market crowded with shoppers and vendors. The sheer randomness of the carnage left many questioning how such violence could return so suddenly.

As emergency responders worked late into the night, clearing debris and escorting victims to medical facilities, the streets of Bajaur remained eerily silent. Makeshift vigils sprang up across the district, candles flickering beside framed photographs and mourning families.

Pakistan’s government has yet to release an official statement, but local leaders condemned the attack, calling it “a savage act against innocent civilians.” Calls for heightened security and a renewed crackdown on extremist elements echoed across social media.

This bombing, one of the deadliest in the region this year, has once again highlighted the persistent threat of violence in northwest Pakistan. The victims—shoppers, vendors, ordinary citizens—paid the price in a war they never signed up for.

While the country mourns, the question remains: Who planted the device, and why now? With investigators still combing through fragments of evidence, the people of Bajaur can only hope for answers—and justice.