Five killed, 15 injured in Pak suicide blast

A suicide bomber struck a police vehicle at a city in restive northwest Pakistan on Tuesday, killing at least five persons, including a child, and injuring 15 others.

Deputy Inspector General of Police Iftikhar Khan said the bomber, who was on foot, targeted the vehicle near the main police station of Bannu in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province. Other officials said a police constable, a child and three civilians were among those killed.

Four persons were killed instantly while a man succumbed to his injuries in the hospital. The 15 injured people were taken to a nearby hospital, where an emergency was declared. Police cordoned off the site of the blast and launched a search operation. A suspect was arrested from the area, officials said.

Shops and markets across the city closed down after the attack on the police van. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack so far.

Authorities usually blame the Taliban for such bombings. Bannu district borders the volatile North Waziristan tribal region, which is considered a hub of Taliban and Al  Qaeda elements. Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani condemned the attack in Bannu and directed authorities to investigate the incident.