By IANS,
Islamabad : Twelve policemen were killed and a dozen others injured when militants stormed a police station in northwest Pakistan Saturday, Xinhua reported.
The attack took place around 4.30 p.m. at a police station in the Kulachi area of Dera Ismail Khan district.
Policemen who were earlier held hostage inside the building were rescued after nearly five hours of gunbattle.
Five of the 12 attackers were killed and the rest managed to escape, local media reports said.
Meanwhile the security forces have taken control of the police station and a search operation is underway.
Grenade blasts and firing were heard shortly after the attackers entered the building. Earlier reports said that at least six policemen were killed.
Over a 100 security personnel had reached the site but were unable to enter the building as policemen were held hostage.
Some of the militants had taken positions on the roof of the police station and were firing at the security forces who surrounded the building.
Three blasts were heard when the security forces backed by armored vehicles tried to storm the police station, witnesses said. Several police vehicles were destroyed.
No group has so far claimed responsibility for the attack.