PESHAWAR – At least 22 people were killed and several others injured on Wednesday when a suicide bomber rammed his explosives-laden vehicle into the boundary wall of a police station in the outskirts of Bannu district, and a school van hit a roadside bomb in Peshawar.
Besides the police station, a mosque was also razed to the ground, while a school and a number of houses were partially damaged. Around 60 to 70 people were present in premises of the police station and the mosque when the bomber struck. The targeted police station is situated along the North Waziristan Road, 15 kilometres away from the city.
Per reports, the suicide bomber attacked the police station when almost all of police personnel and residents of the area were offering evening prayers. Security personnel rushed to the site soon after the explosion and cordoned off the area.
Senior police officials confirmed several police casualties and said the exact number could be made available on completion of the rescue activities.
Beside police officials, personnel of the Frontier Constabulary were also camping at the police station. Officials said eight of those killed were FC personnel. Thirteen bodies have been shifted to Divisional Headquarters Hospital. Bannu is adjacent to North Waziristan Agency, the purported hideout of thousands of local and foreign militants.
The Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan has claimed responsibility for the attack.
In Peshawar, two schoolteachers, both sisters, were killed and seven others injured when a school van hit a roadside bomb in Hassan Ghari area on Wednesday afternoon.
The injured included at least three schoolchildren.
Per detail, unidentified terrorist had planted explosives along Pajjagi Road in Hindkian area of Hassan Ghari.
The school van was taking teachers and children home after school when it hit the explosives. Six female teachers and three children were inside the van when the incident occurred.
Nazaka and Samina, both sisters, were killed instantly, while Abdul Wahab, Mahnoor and Musef were the children injured in the attack.