DPO office attacked in DI Khan

Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan claim responsibility for the attack.

DI KHAN: Four suicide bombers attacked the District Police Officer’s (DPO) office in Dera Ismail Khan on Saturday. The Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan claimed responsibility for the attack.

Three people, including one police official, were killed in the attack which lasted for over two hours, officials confirmed. Three suicide bombers detonated, while one was shot dead.

Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Information Minister Mian Iftikhar Hussain said that three of the bombers were dressed in police uniform. The bombers entered the office from the back, where a building was under construction, sources said.

Initial reports had stated that there were eight bombers, but after the operation officials confirmed that there were only four attackers.

Hospital sources said that a total of 11 injured people, including seven police officials, were shifted to the hospital.

End of live updates

4:10pm

The security operation has ended and the Army has started to move from its positions.

The operation went on for around 2-3 hours.

The police say that it will address the media shortly.

3:50pm

Express News correspondent reported that at least 13-14 people were rescued from the DPO office.

An eyewitness, rescued from the building, said that he heard 2-3 explosions which caused the plaster to fall off the walls and shattered the glass windows of the office.

Initial reports suggest that the attackers entered the building from the back using a ladder.

Four dead bodies have been shifted to a hospital. Three of them are suspected to be from North Waziristan and the police are suspecting that they might be the militants who attacked the office.

K-P Information Minister Mian Iftikhar said that the attackers were probably planning the attack since the past 15 days, but nothing can be said unless the official statements are released.

3:37pm

Interior Minister Rehman Malik, commending the security forces in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, said that there should be a “force within the force” to provide complete security to their convoys.

Talking to the media in Rawalpindi, Malik said that the Taliban are now targeting the people who provide security, and added that there will no talks with them unless they give up their weapons.

“I still invite them for talks, but not with arms and ammunition… Who would want to talk to murderers?” he said.

3:20pm

Security sources said that two policemen were injured in the firing. They claimed to have killed three potential suicide bombers in retaliation.

According to initial reports, two dead bodies have been retrieved from the DPO office after the clearance operation. Reports suggest that the bombers did not detonate themselves, but their explosives went off when the police fired at them.

Express News correspondent reported that at least two dead bodies were retrieved from the DPO office after the clearance operation.

3:10pm

An eyewitness told Express News that he saw at least three dead bodies. He said that they were not wearing the police uniform, but it was still not known whether they were police officials, attackers or civilians.

The DPO office has been cleared and the people stuck inside the building have been rescued by the security officials.

3:00pm

Police officials told Reuters that at least three policemen were wounded in the incident.

They also claimed that there were five militants who stormed the police station wearing police uniforms.

2:50pm

Security personnel have taken charge of the DPO office.

A clearance operation is currently underway.

Three terrorists have been killed in the encounter.

In November last year, two police officers were killed — including an assistant sub-inspector (ASI) — and three others were injured when militants carrying rocket propelled grenades and other heavy arms attacked a police station in DI Khan.

“This police station was our target and our Mujahideens have carried out this attack,” the TTP’s main spokesman, Ehsanullah Ehsan, had told reporters. “We accept responsibility for the attack,” he told AFP.

2:45pm

Firing at the DPO office has stopped. There are now reports of firing from surrounding areas.

Circuit House, the PTCL office, all courts and the high court are located in the area surrounding the DPO office

2:30pm

All roads leading up to the DPO office have been sealed.

Two men were reported to have detonated themselves after they attacked the office using hand grenades.

A Taliban militant and his wife had carried out a suicide bombing on a police station in DI Khan on June 25, 2011. Around 12 policemen were killed in the attack which lasted for several hours.

2:20pm

Police and army personnel have started moving in.

Ramzan Seemab reports that another huge blast has taken place, which has damaged nearby buildings.

Two terrorists believed to be dressed in police uniforms had attacked the office.

2:15pm

Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Information Minister Mian Iftikhar Hussain has said that army personnel have also arrived to assist the police.

Ambulances have also been sent, said Hussain.

Firing is still ongoing from both sides.

2:00pm

Police has so far not been able to enter the office.

Firing is still underway.

Four explosions were heard in the area.

A body lying outside is reported to be that of a suicide bomber who is believed to have detonated outside the office.