Police officials collect evidence at the site of a bomb attack in Charsadda. PHOTO: AFP
Thirty-three other people were injured in the blast as well, of which 12 were policemen.
"The bomb went off when a police van carrying 13 policemen for duty was passing through the spot. Three persons were killed and 33 were wounded," senior police officer Shafiullah Khan said.
"It seems the police van was the target of the attack."
Security officers reached the site of the explosion and cordoned off the area. Four kilogrammes of explosives were used in the blast.
"The bomb was planted in a motorcycle," Khan told AFP by telephone.
He said the bomb was detonated by remote control as the police van passed the motorcycle on the main square.
Rescue teams reached the explosion site and rescue operation has started. The injured - three of whom are in critical condition - were taken to local hospitals for medical assistance.
Search operation has started in the area, further investigation is underway and evidence is being collected.
This is the second attack on the police in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa in less than 10 hours.
Attack in Peshawar
Last night, at least seven people, including five policemen, were killed when militants had ambushed a police mobile van and a car on Kohat Road in the jurisdiction of Badhaber police station.
A police official told The Express Tribune that the militants ambushed a police van in the Ghaz Stop area, leaving two policemen injured. The wounded then called for help on their wireless sets.
When Sub-Inspector Aslam Khan, the in-charge of the Zangali check post, reached the area to evacuate the injured policemen in his car, the militants attacked their vehicle, killing all five men on the spot.
A heavy contingent of police was sent to the area to launch a search operation.
COMMENTS (9)
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Shaheed police ehelkaaron ko salaam.
@US CENTCOM:
As an American I'm embarrassed that this administration , that has failed to show any meaningful result in domestic and international endeavors for well being of people and to advance a healthy mindset , is wasting time and money on window dressings , like your comment here. Empty words , empty talks bring empty results . Heavens sake wake up and pit your attention on deeds that are considered at least half way sophisticated !
This space is only meant for bomb blast news??
@goggi (Lahore): Must be learning a lot from India? Don't worry about Pakistan; The nation and people will defeat the criminals and terrorists who take orders and funding from outside agencies and countries. These acts are only the acts of cowards who dare not fight the Pakistan army or security forces directly in a fair battle. Thankfully the nation and the people are resolute in the face of terror. The economy and overall situation is improving which scares Pakistan's enemies. That's why there is again violence that will fade again.
It is only safe to say that the enemies of peace have not given up on their evil agenda. These acts of terror prove that the threat of terrorism continues to haunt the nation. The terrorists have been trying to prevent us from achieving our shared peace objectives for over a decade. To their disappointment, we’ve not given up on our shared will and desire to succeed against terrorism. We stand by the government of Pakistan and salute the brave security personnel who lost their lives in this act of terror. We also wish a quick and speedy recovery to those who are injured. We encourage the people of region to stand united against our common enemies in the region. We are working closely with the government of Pakistan, and have full confidence in their ability to negate the threat of terrorism from the country.
Ali Khan Digital Engagement Team, USCENTCOM
We have in Pakistan desperate fellow citizens who eat decaying human bodies, dogs, rats or even have sex with dead bodies. What is left to discuss when the souls are dead? Famine versus hatf 111........!
Morally Pakistan has seeped in a bottomless pit with the society split between destitution and decadence.
Where are our security agencies? Why govt. spent a huge amount from National Exchequer on them? They totally failed to protect themselves and public from such attacks. Why the Government not issue Shoot order for Samaj Dushnam Anasir.
The results of negotiation with terrorists are fast appearing. They are not happy even after full recognition, surrender, and their legitimization by our right wing parties and govt. They would not stop at anything less than full implementation of their brand of Sharia in all of Pakistan.