PESHAWAR: At least six people were killed and another 19 were injured when a suicide bomber attacked a police vehicle at Meelad Square in Bannu police precincts on Tuesday.
The suicide bomber blew himself up near the police vehicle which was on routine patrol. Police officials said the vehicle was completely destroyed while nearby shops were partially damaged. “It was a suicide attack. The bomber came on foot and detonated himself near a police van close to a police station,” Bannu police chief Iftikhar Khan said.
“The death toll is now six. They include two boys aged seven and nine, one police official and three pedestrians. Nineteen people were injured,” Khan said. Bannu Station House Officer Haji Saadullah told Pakistan Today that one policeman was killed on the spot along with five others. He said the suicide bomber attempted to attack the police station, adding that explosives weighing 10 kilogrammes were used in the attack.
Soon after the attack, police started a search operation and arrested eight suspects. The officials said the situation was under control. However, security was tightened in the area. The blast in Bannu occurred on the day when Prime Minister Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani was on a day-long visit of Peshawar.
Addressing PPP workers, Gilani reaffirmed the government’s determination of eradicating terrorism and militancy, adding that durable peace, economic progress and investment could not be achieved until the country was purged of terrorism. The prime minister said the armed forces alone would take the decision regarding a military operation in North Waziristan.
