Car bomb attack in northwestern Pakistan kills at least 14 police personnel

A car bombing at a police post in Bannu left 12 policemen dead on Sunday. Three personnel were found alive and taken to hospital after the attack.

In Short

• The blast was followed by an ambush on responding cops
• 3 police personnel were found alive and rushed to a hospital
• The incident took place in northwestern Pakistan's Bannu

A car bombing on a police outpost and an ambush on the responding cops resulted in the death of at least 14 police personnel in northwestern Pakistan, authorities said on Sunday. The incident took place in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa's Bannu on Saturday.

Police official Sajjad Khan said three personnel were found alive at the site of the attack and rushed to hospital. Another officer, cited by news agency Reuters, spoke on the condition of anonymity and said that the attackers first rammed into the post with an explosive-laden car and then stormed the premises while firing at any remaining officers.

"Other law enforcement personnel were sent to help the police, but the terrorists ambushed them and caused some casualties," he said. Police sources cited by Reuters said the attackers also used drones in the attack.

MILITANTS CLAIM RESPONSIBILITY

Ambulances from rescue agencies and civil hospitals arrived at the scene, with officials saying a state of emergency had been declared in government hospitals in the area.

An alliance of militant outfits, known as the Ittehad-ul-Mujahideen, has claimed responsibility for the deadly attack.

PHOTOS CAPTURE DESTRUCTION

Visuals from the scene of the attack showed the police post had been reduced to rubble, with bricks, charred wreckage and mangled vehicles scattered around the area.

(Photos: Reuters)

Besides the human cost of violence, militant attacks in the region have the potential of reigniting fighting along Pakistan's border with Taliban-ruled Afghanistan.

In February this year, the allies-turned-foes engaged in the worst fighting between the two sides in years, with Pakistan carrying out airstrikes that Islamabad said targeted militant strongholds inside Afghanistan.

- Ends
(Based on inputs from Reuters)