By IRNA,
Islamabad : A car bomb attack killed nine policemen and one passerby in Pakistan’s northwest early Saturday, the police chief said.
Suspected Taliban militants detonated the explosive-packed car with a remote-control device in the outskirts of Peshawar, the capital of North West Frontier Province when the policemen started search of the vehicle, city police chief Safwat Gayur said.
No group claimed responsibility for the attack.
Gayur confirmed seven policemen and a civilian were killed in the blast at around 7:35 a.m. at Badabar locality. Two inspectors were among the policemen who lost lives in the attack, he said.
The police were informed that a dead body is lying in an abandoned car in a narrow street. A police party led by Sub Inspector Afzal Shah rushed to the site. When the police officers and cops encircled it and tried to search it, a huge explosion took place, police official said. The car was completely destroyed, killing 7 policemen at the scene.
The police chief said that inquiry into the incident has been ordered and police on entry and exit points had been alerted for arrest of the perpetrators.
He said that security has already been beefed up in the city and police are keeping close vigil on the movement of suspected elements.
President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani strongly condemned the blast in Peshawar.
In separate messages they expressed deep grief over the loss of lives and vowed to continue efforts till the elimination of extremists, militants and terrorists from the country.
They also directed best possible care for the injured and asked the authorities to submit a report at the earliest.