By IRNA,
Islamabad : A suicide bomb attack in a Pakistan’s northwest city on Friday killed at least seven people and injured several others, state television reported.
Two police men were among those killed in the blast in Mardan, a city 60 kilometers northeast of Peshawar, the provincial capital of North West Frontier Province, PTV reported.
Private television put the death toll at 9, including four policemen and five civilians.
Doctors said that 20 injured were brought to Mardan District Hospital.
Several injured are in critical condition, they said.
Witnesses said that the attack happened at the gate of the office of Deputy Inspector General Police, who was on his way back to office after addressing a news conference.
The Deputy Inspector General Police told reporters a short while ago before the attack that the situation in the area is better.
No group claimed responsibility for the attack.
District Police Officer Iqbal Khan said that the bomber was planning to hit the police chief, but he escaped unhurt.
The police rushed to the site and sealed the area for traffic and general public.
A large number of people rushed to hospital to donate blood and to see if their relatives are among the victims.
President Asiaf Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani condemned the attack and ordered immediate inquiry.
The bomber struck the highly security area where offices of police and other important offices, including passport office, are located.
Police said that they have found head of the bomber near the blast site.
Police said that several critical injured were taken to Peshawar hospital.