By DPA,
Islamabad : Islamic militants killed four police officers in an attack on a patrol unit in Pakistan’s restive North-West Frontier Province Monday, police said.
Around two dozen gunmen ambushed the police vehicle shortly after midnight Sunday on the outskirts of the provincial capital, Peshawar, which borders the Khyber tribal district.
“Two policemen died on the spot and two more succumbed to their injuries while being moved to the hospital,” senior police officer Shahid Ahmed said.
“One official escaped unhurt when he fell off the patrol car as the driver tried to speed away after receiving initial gunshots,” according to Ahmed.
There was no immediate claim of responsibility, but police suspected insurgents linked to the Lashkar-e-Islam militant group carried out the strike.
Militant leader Mangal Bagh and his men are believed to be behind dozens of attacks on trucks passing through the Khyber region to haul supplies to US and NATO troops in landlocked Afghanistan. Pakistani security forces are also frequently targeted in the area.
Monday’s ambush also occurred on a road leading to the key land route.
Government forces have recently carried out raids on Lashkar-e-Islam hideouts in the Khyber district, arresting several fighters and seizing large caches of weapons.