Five dead in suicide bombing on paramilitary headquarters

Two suicide bombers attacked the headquarters of a Pakistani paramilitary force on Monday, killing three security officials and wounding at least 12 people.

Police told BBC Urdu that the attackers were armed when they attacked the Federal Police headquarters in Peshawar, northwest Pakistan.

No group claimed responsibility for the attack.

The police complex is located in a high-security area in Peshawar, and the attackers had to penetrate multiple security levels to break into it.

Witnesses told local media that they heard two loud explosions at around 08:10 local time (03:10 GMT) on Monday.

The area has been cordoned off and rescue teams are currently at the site. One official said that five security officials and seven civilians were wounded.

Pakistani authorities described the attack as a “thwarted terrorist plot,” noting that the attackers were shot at the gate, before they could enter the building.

Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said: “The perpetrators of this incident must be identified as soon as possible and brought to justice.”

The Pakistan Federal Police, formerly known as the Frontier Police, is responsible for dealing with situations that exceed the capabilities of the police force, including tribal incursions and criminal gang violence.

Peshawar is part of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, which lies along the border with Afghanistan and has long been a flashpoint for militant violence.

The Pakistani Taliban, also known as the Pakistani Taliban, is active in the province and has claimed responsibility for similar attacks across the country.

Additional reporting by Kelly Ng