Suicide bomber kills policeman, wounds six in Mardan

PESHAWAR/ MARDAN: A suicide bomber Saturday struck a police patrol in Mardan, killing a policeman and wounding six others, police said.

The bombing took place at a market in the Katalang market.

"A policeman was killed and two other policemen were wounded when a suicide bomber blew himself up close to a police patrol car," senior police official Shafiullah told AFP.

Four civilians were also wounded in the suicide bombing, Shafiullah said.

After the bombing police chased an alleged handler of the suicide bomber and killed him in a shoot out, the official said.

Two other police officials confirmed the account and casualties.

Nobody immediately claimed responsibility for the bombing, they said, but Taliban militants in the past have carried out several bombings in the region.