Sunday, January 15, 2012

9 killed, 4 injured in police station attack in NW Pakistan

Location of Dera Ismail Khan District (highlig...
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ISLAMABAD, Jan. 14 (Xinhua) -- At least nine people including two policemen and three suicide bombers were killed on Saturday when militants attacked the office of a senior police officer in northwestern Pakistani city of Dera Ismail Khan, reported local Urdu TV Samaa.

According to the report, the attack that lasted for more than one hour was launched on Saturday afternoon when about ten armed militants stormed the office of Khalid Sohail, District Police Officer of the city.

The attackers who were reportedly wearing police uniforms entered the building from the main entrance. One suicide bomber blasted himself soon after entering the main gate while his nine accomplices including two suicide bombers hurled hand grenades at the people inside the building.

After the explosion, fierce exchange of firing took place between militants and the police. The D.P.O was present inside his office with other police officers when the attack took place. Two of the attackers tried to enter inside his office but the police succeeded in stopping them from targeting senior police officers including D.P.O.

Another suicide bomber detonated his suicide vest during the shootout while the third suicide bomber was shot dead by the police.

There were an estimated 50 people inside the building when the attack happened. Six people including two policemen were killed at the spot.

Army and police stationed in nearby area were called in when the attack was reported.

Three militants were killed and three others were arrested in an injured state by the police while others escaped successfully.

Later, talking to media, Interior Minister Rehman Malik condemned the attack and said that during the last few months security forces remained the main target of militants. Militants are trying to demoralize them by repeated attacks on law enforcement agencies.

Malik also rejected the media reports that the Pakistani government is having peace talks with local Taliban leaders.

Following the attack, security was beefed up in Dera Ismail Khan and provincial capital Peshawar.

No group has claimed responsibility for the blast so far.

Saturday's attack is the third of its kind in Dera Ismail Khan. Earlier on Nov. 23 last year, three policemen were killed and four others injured when 14 militants attacked a police station in the same area.

On June 25 last year, ten policemen were killed while 12 others injured when a police station on the outskirts of the city was attacked by a group of Taliban militants.

Read more: http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/world/2012-01/14/c_131360514.htm
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