PESHAWAR, Aug 28 (APP): At least nine persons including six policemen were killed and 12 others injured when a police was van blown up with a remote control bomb near Karam bridge in Bannu district on Thursday, police said. The van carrying policemen and jail staff was heading towards jail from policelines, when it reached Kurram bridge a remote-control Improvised Explosive Device (IED) planted in a car parked on roadside was detonated by miscreants.

Resultantly, six police cops, a woman and two civilians were killed instantly while 12 others, five of them policemen sustained critical wounds.

The dead identified are head constable Muhammad Jan, driver Inayatullah, constables Naib Khan, Saadullah Khan, Muhammad Naeem, Havaladar Salim Khan and Mst Shamia.

Police said the destroyed car was recovered from the site of blast. The explosion was so severe that the van plunged into deep ditch from Kurram bridge. The injured were shifted to Bannu Hospital where emergency has been declared. The death toll may rise further as several persons sustained critical injuries.  The doctors have appealed for blood.

The bang of explosion was heard from long distance as the thick smoke engulfed the area which terrorized people. The mobile of the victims were ringing while the injured were crying for help.

Emergency has been declared in hospitals while doctors on leave were called in for duty. Police have cordoned off the area and started search operation.