An explosion caused by old explosive material stored inside the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) police station on University Road in Peshawar left one CTD official martyred and two others injured on Sunday, police confirmed.
Capital City Police Officer (CCPO) Mian Saeed said there was no evidence of a terrorist attack on the police station, adding that the surrounding area was sealed following the blast. A portion of the building collapsed due to the impact.
According to the CCPO, the blast occurred in a storage room where old explosive materials were kept. The fire spread to other ammunition, causing additional explosions. “One CTD official embraced martyrdom, while two others sustained injuries. All detainees were safely evacuated from the lock-up,” he stated.
Police and security forces cordoned off the site, while the Bomb Disposal Unit, rescue teams, and fire brigade remained on the scene to carry out clearance and firefighting operations.
“Initial investigations do not indicate a terrorist attack. No evidence of an assault on the police station has been found so far, but a final conclusion will be drawn after a complete inquiry,” the CCPO said.
Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Operations added that the CTD police station and neighbouring areas were sealed, with additional deployment of personnel. The blast caused structural damage to part of the building.
Police officials said further details will be shared with the public and media once the investigation progresses.
