MANSEHRA, Feb 25: Four staff members of a non-government organisation were killed and eight others were seriously injured when armed men attacked its office here with hand- grenades on Monday. The attack set the building ablaze and rescuers retrieved four charred bodies, one of a woman, from the debris.

Police and witnesses said six armed men entered the three-storey building of Plan International and opened fire on the staff.

They hurled six hand-grenades.

Local people took the injured to the District Headquarters Hospital.

District Police Officer Mazaharul Haq Kakakhel termed it a terrorist attack. He said police had chased the attackers but they escaped in the Behali forest. He said police had beefed up security of the NGO’s offices before the attack but the terrorists managed to penetrate the security cordon.

A local man, Sardar Khan, said the fire brigade reached the place long after the attack.

One of the victims had not been identified till Monday night. Eight vehicles of the NGO were also destroyed in the attack.

Plan International works in various union councils in Mansehra district, focusing on welfare of women and children.

AFP adds: Police said the gunmen came in two cars.

Mohammad Ashfaq, local coordinator for Plan International, said the organisation had not received any threats.

Plan International is based in England.