DERA ISMAIL KHAN, Jan 4: At least seven people, three of them policemen and two journalists, were killed when a suicide bomber blew himself up in front of the Government Polytechnic College near an imambargah on Multan Road. The suicide attack followed an explosion of low intensity.

About 25 people were injured, most of them policemen. Three of them were in critical condition in the district headquarters hospital.

Three people suffered minor injuries in the low-intensity explosion near a teashop.

The suicide bomber struck when police and forensic experts were collecting evidence after cordoning off the area around the teashop.

Officials said the head and legs of a man aged 21-23 years had been found and he might have been the suicide bomber.

The two journalists who lost their lives are Mohammad Imran and Dr Tahir Awan of local dailies Eitedal and Apna Akhbar.

Police said head constable Ijaz Hussain and constables Rashid and Shafiq had been killed. The two other victims are Hafiz Abdul Karim and Juma Khan. Deputy superintendent of police Kefayatullah was injured.

According to witnesses, some people fired on an Edhi ambulance in Muryali area when it was taking the body of journalist Imran to his home. Two people were injured.

The attack triggered panic in the city. Markets and shops were closed and law-enforcements personnel enhanced patrolling.