PESHAWAR: Taliban militants armed with guns and grenades ambushed a police patrol in northwest Pakistan on Thursday, killing three officers and wounding another, police said.

The attack took place in Lakki Marwat district, 230 kilometres southwest of Islamabad, part of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.

Police said eight to 10 Taliban fighters ambushed a police vehicle, first by hurling a grenade and then opening fire with Kalashnikovs after policemen tried to retaliate.

“Three policemen were killed and one was injured. Taliban militants later escaped,” Mohammad Gulzar, the district police chief, told AFP.

Gulzar said Taliban were hiding on both sides of the road and escaped in two vehicles after the attack.

Bombers and gunmen have killed more than 4,800 people across Pakistan since 2007.

There has been a recent surge in fighting between Pakistani troops and militants in the tribal belt.