Suicide blast kills 8 in northwest Pakistan

By JERUSALEM POST STAFF
A suicide bomber attacked the convoy of a regional police chief in northwestern Pakistan on Friday, killing three police officers and five civilians, officials said. The attacker, who was on foot, hit the first vehicle in the convoy as it emerged from the police chief's residence in the city of Mardan. District mayor Himayat Ali said eight people died and another 15 were wounded. Mardan lies in Pakistan's North West Frontier Province bordering Afghanistan where police and security forces are often attacked by Taliban militants. Police chief Akhtar Ali Shah, who escaped unhurt, told reporters that he didn't see the attacker but heard a large explosion at the main gate moments after he got into his vehicle. "I was the target but such attacks cannot stop us from doing our duty," said Shah.