At least six militants, five of them suicide bombers, were killed and a member of the security forces wounded when attackers stormed a police station in birth-west Pakistan on Thursday police said.
The police chief in the area, Nisar Tanoli, said heavily armed suicide bombers attacked Miriyan police station in Bannu, a district in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province in the early hours of the morning.
The attack was followed by a fierce exchange of gunfire. Tanoli said the attackers also used hand grenades and a soldier was wounded.
He said five suicide bombers were shot dead during the counter-attack from the police, paramilitary and army, and that a sixth body of a militant was also found lying in the area.
“Police and FC (Frontier Constabulary) fired upon them. Firing by police and FC blew up five suicide bombers. We also found another body of a militant killed by firing which was intact. Army, police and Frontier Constabulary took part in this operation,” said Tanoli.
The Pakistan Taliban claimed responsibility, local media reported.
Since 2009 the Pakistani military and pro-government militias have regained territory from the Pakistan Taliban who once controlled land a few hours’ drive from the capital, Islamabad.
Earlier this month militants attacked an isolated army checkpoint at Lakki Marwat near Bannu. At least 31 people were killed in the initial assault, subsequent crossfire and a rocket attack on a house, officials said.
