How militants in Pakistan used mobile game PUBG to plan an attack on a police station with a bomb made from a power bank

In a worrying development, activists from CrushAccording to reports in news agency ANI, the militants allegedly used tactics inspired by the popular video game PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds (PUBG) to attack a local police station. PUBGIn-game chat rooms allowed them to communicate and coordinate their activities, making it difficult for authorities to track their movements. This use of technology allowed them to evade electronic surveillance and plan their attack with relative ease.
On 28 August, Banr police station in Swat region was attacked, leaving one police officer dead and two injured. Following the incident, a thorough investigation was launched by the district police.

Militants used improvised explosive device made from power bank

Initial analysis of CCTV footage led investigators to believe that a hand grenade had been used in the attack. However, further investigation revealed that the militants had instead used an improvised explosive device (IED) made from a power bank.
Dr Zahidullah, a police officer in Swat district, revealed that the militants had used PUBG as a training and motivation tool. The game’s chat rooms provided them with a secure communication platform, allowing them to stay in touch with their group members and families in Afghanistan.
During the investigation, authorities identified a suspect and later arrested several others with links to a local militant group led by Murad alias Rehmatullah, affiliated with the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan..

I used PUBG chat rooms to communicate

The arrested suspects revealed that they used PUBG chat rooms to communicate with their group members and families in Afghanistan. To avoid detection, they frequently changed their mobile phones and SIM cards.
Dr Zahidullah pointed out that the families of the arrested militants, who had fled to Afghanistan during Operation Rah-i-Rast in 2009, remain involved in militant activities. Around 2,000 families of militants from Swat are believed to be residing in Afghanistan.