BANNU, Feb 23: A suspected suicide bomber blew himself up near a temporary office of the Cantt DSP on Monday, killing a policeman. Another policeman was injured.

The suspect bomber had managed to enter the Officers Colony, about three kilometres from Bannu.

The deceased was identified as Abdur Raheem, a constable at the office of DSP Tahir Dawar. The injured was identified as Ghaffar Khan. Both were on duty.

“It was a suicide bombing and the attacker was apparently targeting the DSP’s office,” said the acting DPO of Bannu, Saleem Marwat.

The two policemen were seriously injured in the attack and were taken to a local hospital where Abdur Raheem died. Mr Ghaffar’s condition was critical.

Attacker’s remains had been collected by police.

The incident occurred just two kilometres from the place where a Tableeghi congregation was in progress. The congregation started on Monday and would end on Wednesday.

This is the second suicide bombing in the district this year. In the previous incident, 16 people lost their lives when a suicide bomber prematurely detonated an explosive-laden vehicle near a police checkpoint.