At least 14 people were killed and more than 20 others injured in an apparent suicide bombing in Pakistan's northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province on Sunday, according to emergency officials and police.

The explosion occurred in Kabal, where a crowd of anti-militant protesters had gathered near a local police station, officials said.

Bilal Faizi, a spokesman for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa's emergency rescue service, said at least 14 people lost their lives in the blast, while more than 20 others sustained injuries. Many of the wounded were taken to nearby hospitals, with several reported to be in critical condition.

Police official Omar Khan confirmed that at least five police officers were among those killed in the attack, indicating that security personnel stationed in the area were also targeted.

Authorities believe the explosion was caused by a suicide bomber, although an official investigation is underway to establish the exact circumstances surrounding the attack. Security forces immediately sealed off the area, while bomb disposal teams and forensic experts were deployed to examine the scene and collect evidence.

No group had claimed responsibility for the attack at the time of publication.

The bombing comes amid ongoing security challenges in northwestern Pakistan, where militant violence has increased in recent years, particularly in districts bordering Afghanistan. The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province has witnessed a series of attacks targeting security forces, government institutions, and civilians despite intensified counterterrorism operations.

Pakistan's security forces launched a search operation in the surrounding area following the explosion, while hospitals in the region declared emergency measures to treat the influx of casualties.

Government officials strongly condemned the attack, describing it as an attempt to undermine public security and intimidate communities opposing militant activity.

An investigation has been launched to identify those responsible, and authorities said further details would be released as the inquiry progresses. (ILKHA)