PESHAWAR: Suicide bombers attacked a police station on Monday, killing six people in the outskirts of northwestern town Bannu near the militant stronghold of North Waziristan, officials said. The Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) claimed responsibility for the attack.
Two bombers blew themselves up outside the police station in Kaki, 13 kilometres southwest of Bannu. A third gunman also took part, but he escaped after the attack, the officials said.
TTP spokesperson Ehsanullah Ehsan said that the attack was to avenge the death of Baitullah Mehsud’s nephew who was killed by the police earlier in Bannu. The TTP vowed to continue attacks on the police.
"Three militants attacked the Kaki police station. They killed three policemen and two civilians," Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Information Minister Mian Iftikhar Hussain told AFP.
A senior police official, Nisar Tanoli, confirmed the attack and the toll.
"One suicide bomber blew himself up in front of the police station and killed three policemen. The other bomber tried to enter the police station from a mosque at the back. He blew himself up there there killing two civilians," he said.
Hospital officials said another civilian later died of his injuries, taking the death toll up to six.
"There were nine injured, including six policemen and three civilians. A wounded civilian later expired," Mohammed Iqbal, in charge of Bannu hospital, told AFP.
There was no immediate claim of responsibility, but the Pakistani Taliban have frequently targeted security forces with bomb and gun attacks as part of a five-year insurgency concentrated in the northwest.
Bannu lies close to Pakistan's semi-autonomous tribal district of North Waziristan, the most infamous militant bastion on the Afghan border that US officials say is used as a launchpad for attacks in Afghanistan.
COMMENTS (8)
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ
The terrorists think that with their suicide bombers they will be able to deter the resolve of the security forces that are fighting against them. This is not the first time the police have been targeted. Our prayers and condolences go out to the families of the deceased and injured. If the terrorists think that they will be able to gain control through their tactic of fear and intimidation- they are wrong! The mission of dismantling the terror network will go on. Both our countries have suffered enough in the hands of the terrorists, and together we have them on the run. These last ditch efforts of attacking police officers while they are offering their early morning prayers show the mindset of coward terrorists. We stand by and support the security forces of Pakistan who are striving to bring some peace and sanity to the deprived people of the region.
LTC Steven Wollman DET-United States Central Command www.centcom.mil/ur
I have always said they wouldn't just stop at killing the Shias. Dear Pakistanis, you have to treat this cancer.
Pakistan army is providing sanctuary to these animals just a few miles away from here, in Miramshah. Innocent Pakistanis are dying while ISI continues to protect them. There is a consensus on the military operation, except the ISI's unofficial spokesman Tsunami Khan keeps confusing the nation. ET publish this, people need to read this too.
When all the strategic assets of Punjabi Army being kept in North Waziristan , then how come you expect peace in KP? KP police sacrifice will never be forgotten!
Our beloved sons lost their lives.great loss.Non stop tragedy still going on.Incident after incident,why.Looks diplomacy has totally been failed.
Authorities concerned heard,saying, it is cowardly act,such acts can not shake our resolve to wipe out the menace of terrorism.
As they are "only" policeman, no one cares.
State's spy wing continuosly pressurising Pakistan for a military operation North Waziristan overlooking all the complication has been spread in the way.Insisting,insisting and more insisting. At last,Pakistani side kicked out American madness and refused to dancing on the indication.
Peace process is being supprted by with continuety of drones attack,very strange philosophy.Who have to face counterproduction.It is question mark before us.Pakistan has been offering sacrifices,have offered and being offered and despite of all have to face punishment,is it justice?no injustice.
Recently,spy chief has been targeted in Kabul is also a result of conterproductive just like the attack on police in Pakistan.