Explosion at TTP Compound in Northwest Pakistan Kills 24, Including Women and Children

Peshawar, September 22 – At least 24 people, including women and children, were killed and several others injured on Monday when explosives stored at a Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) compound detonated in northwest Pakistan, police said.

The blast occurred in the Matur Dara area of Tirah Valley in Khyber district, near the Afghan border in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. Local authorities denied rumors that the compound had been struck by Pakistani fighter jets, clarifying instead that the fatalities resulted from an accidental explosion of explosives used in bomb-making. Police confirmed that among the dead were 14 militants along with at least 10 civilians, including women and children.

Station House Officer Zafar Khan of Tirah Police Station said the incident caused widespread casualties within the compound. However, some residents insisted that the explosion was triggered by an airstrike.

The facility, which has long served as a base for local militants as well as Afghan fighters, was reportedly used for manufacturing improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and sniper training. Authorities noted that militants often establish such centers within civilian areas, storing large amounts of explosives to restrict access by security forces. Poor storage practices and ongoing training activities frequently lead to deadly accidental blasts.

As per agency report, Pakistan has witnessed a surge in militant violence since the Taliban seized power in Kabul in 2021, undermining Islamabad’s hopes that a friendly government in Afghanistan would help contain terrorism along the border.