Car bomb and gunfire kill 12 at Pakistan checkpoint

Militants detonated a car bomb at a police checkpoint in Bannu, northwestern Pakistan, and then opened fire on officers. The attack late Saturday killed at least 12 people, authorities reported Sunday.

The incident occurred in the Fateh Khel area. Images from the scene showed the checkpoint destroyed, with debris and damaged vehicles scattered around.

Bannu police official Muhammad Sajjad Khan stated that a suicide bomber drove an explosives-filled vehicle into the checkpoint. He added that multiple militants then entered the post after the explosion.

Khan confirmed that 12 officers were dead and one was missing. Officials noted the car was packed with explosives when it was driven into the checkpoint.

An officer, who asked not to be named, said other law enforcement personnel sent to assist were ambushed by the terrorists. This ambush led to some of the casualties.

A senior administrative official in Bannu told AFP that militants used drones and heavy weapons during the assault. The official also said attackers took police personnel and weapons from the station as they left.

This attack is the latest in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. The region has seen increased militant activity, partly due to its closeness to the Afghan border.

The Afghan Taliban government has denied claims from Pakistan that it shelters militant groups. Relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan have been tense, with recent armed clashes.