HANGU, July 19: Five civilians and a policeman were killed when a suicide bomber rammed an explosives-laden vehicle into the main gate of a police parade ground here on Thursday.

Another 30 people, including eight constables, were wounded in the explosion, hospital sources said.

Officials and eyewitnesses said the attacker ploughed his Suzuki car into the gate of the police compound on the main Hangu-Kohat Road, where a large number of recruits were busy in their morning drill.

They said the bomber detonated the explosives when the security guards stopped him at the gate of the Mazhar Parade Ground.

Officials said most of the casualties occurred on the road outside the parade ground as the explosives-packed car hit two vehicles.

Traffic on the main Kohat-Hangu Road was diverted to the bypass after the blast.

Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) Zulfiqar Cheema, Hangu Nazim Ghaniur Rehman, the DCO and other officials reached the site soon after the explosion and supervised the rescue operation. They also went to the hospital to inquire after the injured.

Meanwhile, the Hangu nazim said the district government will hold a meeting soon to discuss the deteriorating law and order situation in the area.

According to hospital sources, the condition of eight of the injured was stated to be critical and they had been shifted to Lady Reading Hospital in Peshawar.