Two people get murdered in assault on polio team

(MENAFN) At least two people, including a police constable, were killed Tuesday in an attack on a polio vaccination team in Pakistan, officials reported.

The incident occurred in the Bajaur district of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) province. The constable assigned to protect the team and one civilian lost their lives during the attack, according to authorities. The civilian was reportedly shot while attempting to pursue the assailants, who escaped the scene. Police have launched a search operation, and no polio workers were harmed.

The attack comes just a day after the government launched its final polio campaign for 2025, scheduled to run until December 21. Over 400,000 vaccinators are expected to administer two drops of the polio vaccine to children under five.

K-P Chief Minister Sohail Afridi condemned the assault, vowing to bring those responsible to justice and affirming that the vaccination campaign would continue without disruption. Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also denounced the attack and pledged accountability for the perpetrators.

Polio vaccination teams in Pakistan have previously been targeted by militants. In 2024, 20 people were killed and 53 injured during immunization campaigns in the province. So far this year, Pakistan has reported 30 polio cases, with K-P recording the highest number at 19. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack.

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