BANNU, Nov 28: Six people, including a policeman, were killed and 16 others suffered injuries when a suicide bomber rammed an explosives-laden vehicle into a police van near here during Maghreb prayer on Friday.

Eyewitnesses said the police van was parked in front of the Guldad Hotel on the Bannu-Kohat road, about seven kilometres from here.

The injured, including an SHO and two constables of the Thana town, are being treated in the district headquarters hospital. SHO Sadullah and the two constables were in critical condition, hospital sources said.

Eyewitnesses said the explosion was so severe that both the vehicles were completely destroyed.

Sources said that a military convoy had passed the area only a few minutes before the suicide attack.

Police said the head and other parts of the bomber’s body had been found and would be sent for DNA tests.

Sources said the bomber appeared to be in his late teens.

There have been nearly 1,500 people killed since July 2007 in attacks by militants across Pakistan.