By DPA,
Islamabad : A suicide car bomber attacked a military convoy and checkpoint in northwestern Pakistan Saturday, killing at least 18 soldiers and two civilians, a senior police official said.
The bomber rammed his explosives laden car into a security wall around the army post when a military convoy was passing by in Doaba town of the restive Hangu district.
“It was a suicide bombing. The deaths of 18 security personnel and two civilians have been confirmed,” said deputy police superintendent Farid Khan.
“Ten more people were injured,” he added.
The blast was so huge that it damaged 10 vehicles of the army convoy and one police van parked near the post.
The security forces cordoned off the area following the blast and the injured were moved to a local military hospital. Some of the victims were reportedly in critical condition.
No one has claimed responsibility for the attack but Taliban militants from the adjoining lawless tribal region have recently carried out several attacks on security personnel and government officials in Hangu.