Seven killed in suspect Taliban attack on Pakistani police

Jan 14, 2012, 13:13 GMT

Islamabad - At least seven people were killed Saturday - including one policeman and four attackers - after gunmen stormed a district police headquarters in Pakistan's north-western province of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, triggering clashes with security forces, police said.

The raid took place in the Dera Ismail Khan district, which is close to a tribal area where Taliban militants are active.

'The total death toll is seven, including four militants, two civilians and one policeman,' said Safi Ullah of the district police control room, which monitored the clashes. 'Seven policemen were also injured.'

He said the clashes continued for almost two hours, as two attackers took position in the building, and ended when the police killed them.

Two other militants died when they exploded their suicide vests at the main entrance of the building, at the launch of the attack.

The Taliban took responsibility for the attack, which was seen as a possible retaliation for recent police action in which several militants were killed.

A local police official said the attackers had been disguised as policemen.

Panic gripped the city after the attack, and all offices and markets were closed. Local television channels showed people running for cover while gunshots could be heard in the background.

Soldiers of the army's Quick Reaction Force were immediately dispatched to help the police. Security forces surrounded the entire area to stop the attackers from fleeing.

Militants have increased attacks on security forces after a brief lull. Early Friday, around 150 militants attacked a police post in the Sarband area, near Peshawar, killing three policemen.