BANNU/PARACHINAR, May 8: A policeman and two women were killed and 27 injured as a suicide bomber rammed his explosives-laden car into a police station in Bannu early on Wednesday.

Also in the day, a security official was killed and another injured in a landmine explosion in lower Kurram Agency.

Officials in Bannu said the suicide bombing occurred on the rear side of Domail police station at 5:00am.

They said the bomber drove the car through the densely populated area before hitting the police station, destroying the building and several nearby houses and shops.

After the blast, local residents rushed to the place and began pulling bodies and the injured from under the collapsed buildings.

Police constable Rehmanullah and two women were killed and 27, mostly children and women, suffered injuries in the attack.

Witnesses said two houses and the residential area of the police station were completely destroyed, while five houses and several shops were partially damaged.

They said the injured were taken to District Headquarters Hospital, Bannu and Khalifa Gul Nawaz Hospital.

DPO Ghafoor Afridi told Dawn that it was a suicide attack and police station was the apparent target.

He said three people, including a policeman and two women, were killed and 27 injured in the terrorist attack.

The bomb disposal unit personnel said 400kg explosives were used in the explosion, which created an eight feet deep crater.

In Parachinar, a security official was killed and another injured in a landmine explosion in Shahidano Dhand area of lower Kurram Agency along the Afghan border.

Local officials said the two security personnel were on routine patrol in the area when a landmine planted by miscreants on a village track exploded, killing one of them and injuring the other.

They said the incident occurred at 10:00am a few yards from a security checkpost.

The security forces cordoned off the area and began search operation.

TWO SHOT DEAD IN CHARSADDA: Two people were killed when a guard of Awami National Party leader opened fire on passersby in front of the hujra of party candidate for PK-21 Masoom Shah in Charsadda on Wednesday.

Officials said leader of ANP, Battagram Fateehullah Khan came to meet ANP candidate Masoom Shah at his hujra and Shahzad, guard of Fateehullah, suddenly opened fire on passersby in front of the hujra.

They said the firing killed Mewa Gul on the spot and injured Jalil, who later died at the hospital. Officials said police arrested the guard and began investigation.

HANGU BLAST CLAIMS TWO LIVES: Two people were killed and 18, including a policeman, women and some children, injured in a remote-controlled blast in Jani Chowk of Hangu Bazaar on Wednesday.

Local police said the bomb was planted in a handcart parked on Railway Road in Hangu Bazaar.

They said police sub-inspector and platoon commander Ahmad Hussain was among the injured.

Police said the injured were taken to District Headquarters Hospital, Hangu.

FIVE INJURED IN DI KHAN ATTACK: Five people, including three policemen, were injured in a hand grenade attack and blast in Dera Ismail Khan city on Wednesday.

Police said first miscreants hurled a hand grenade partially damaging part of the house injuring two people.

Police rushed to the place but when they reached there, a roadside improvised explosive device exploded destroying their van and injuring police constables Mohammad Timur and Inayatullah and driver Gulam Fareed.

The injured were later taken to district headquarters Hospital, Dera Ismail Khan.

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