By IRNA,
Islamabad : Nearly 16 people were killed and several injured in a roadside bomb attack on prisoners’ van in a remote area in Pakistan’s northwest on Thursday, the state television reported.
The van was bringing prisoners from court to jail when came under attack in Dir Bala area in the North West Frontier Province, PTV reported.
No group claimed responsibility for the attack.
A schoolchildren bus, passing through the area, also came under attack, injuring several children, the report said.
Residents said that the blast killed nine people, including four school children.
The residents took the injured to hospitals in the area in their own vehicles.
The people of Dir district recently formed ‘lashkar’ or army against the militants and forced them to leave the area.
Two Chinese engineers were kidnapped by militants from Dir area last month, who were later taken to the restive Swat valley.
Taliban spokesman Muslim Khan says that the engineers would be freed if the government releases around 130 militant prisoners.