By Saud Mehsud Mushtaq Ali Reuters
Islamist militants rammed an explosive-laden truck right into a police station in northwest Pakistan on Tuesday, killing at the very least 24 individuals, two safety officers stated, the most recent devastating assault in current months claimed by a Pakistani Taliban group.
The bomb and gun assault occurred within the district of Dera Ismail Khan on the sting of the lawless tribal areas bordering Afghanistan, the 2 safety officers advised Reuters.
The police station was being utilized by the Pakistani Military as a base camp, they stated, including that a number of militants first rammed the truck into its boundary wall, then others attacked with weapons. They feared army ammunition saved inside might need additionally exploded.
There was no official affirmation of the demise toll. The military’s public relations wing didn’t reply to a request for a remark.
Inside Minister Sarfraz Bugti condemned the assault and expressed grief over the deaths, a press release from his workplace stated.
A number of individuals had been wounded and in important situation, stated Aizaz Mehmood, an official of the state-run rescue service.
“We’re nonetheless listening to gunshots,” he added.
In a press release, a Pakistani Taliban group, the Tahreek-e-Jihad Pakistan (TJP), which has emerged not too long ago, stated its militants carried out the assault aimed on the Pakistani military.
It was not instantly clear whether or not the group was linked to the principle Tahreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) group of Islamist and sectarian militants, which has focused the state and its businesses for years, looking for to overthrow the federal government and exchange it with rule primarily based on their harsh model of Islamic legislation.
