Suicide blast kills 8 in northwest Pakistan

PAKISTAN: A suicide bomber blew himself up near the convoy of a regional police chief in northwestern Pakistan on Friday, killing three police officers and five civilians, officials said.

At least 15 other people were injured when the attacker struck the convoy of police chief Akhtar Ali Shah in the city of Mardan, said Himayat Ali, the district mayor.

Ali said Shah was on his way to work when one of the vehicles of his convoy was hit. Shah escaped unhurt.

Mardan lies in Pakistan’s North West Frontier Province bordering Afghanistan where police and security forces are often attacked by Taliban militants.

PESHAWAR, Friday, AP