Two policemen killed in Bannu roadside blast

Three others were wounded in the bomb blast that targeted a police van in the northwestern town. Photo by Reuters

BANNU: A roadside bomb blast hit a police van in Pakistans northwestern town of Bannu on Thursday, killing two policemen and wounding three, police said.

The attack came a day after a suicide bomber rammed his explosive-laden vehicle into a mosque in the same town and killed 20 paramilitary soldiers and policemen.

Wednesdays attack was immediately claimed by the Pakistani Taliban. The Taliban said they were avenging US drone strikes in Pakistans tribal belt.

We claim responsibility for this attack. We will continue such attacks unless the drone attacks are stopped, Taliban spokesman Azam Tariq, speaking from an undisclosed location, told AFP by telephone.

The bomb followed a missile strike by an unmanned aircraft on a militant compound in the North Waziristan tribal region at dawn on Wednesday, which killed five militants, security officials said.


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