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Suicide bomb hits Pakistan police Suicide bomb hits Pakistan police
(about 6 hours later)
A suicide bomber has attacked a police checkpoint in north-western Pakistan, killing at least 20 people, police say. A suicide bomber driving a pick-up truck has killed 27 people in an attack at a police checkpoint in north-western Pakistan, police say.
Most of the dead are police and soldiers and at least 12 other people have been injured, officials say. Most of the dead are reported to be police or soldiers and at least 62 people were injured.
The attack happened in Hangu district, close to Pakistan's tribal areas, which have become known as a sanctuary for Islamist rebels. Police say the bomber rammed his pick-up into a convoy at the checkpoint near the town of Hangu.
Pakistani Taleban militants, allied to al-Qaeda, have carried out numerous such attacks over the past two years. The Pakistani Taleban, which is based in the nearby tribal areas, claimed responsibility for the attack.
At least 18 members of the security forces were killed, as well as two civilians, senior police official Farid Khan told AP news agency. The militants, who are allied to al-Qaeda, have carried out numerous such attacks over the past two years.
Senior police official Farid Khan told Reuters the death toll could rise still further because at least seven of the injured were in a critical condition.
He said a local police chief was among the injured.He said a local police chief was among the injured.
One official told the BBC that the suicide bomber had driven a truck laden with explosives into the checkpoint. It happened as a security convoy was passing through. Pakistani Pime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani has condemned the attack as a "cowardly act of terrorism" and promised to use an "iron hand" against militants.
The attack happened in the town of Doaba, in Hangu district, at 1610 local time (1010 GMT), reports said. 'Retaliation'
The attack happened at 1610 local time (1010 GMT) at Doaba.
"The bomber was driving a pick-up truck which he rammed into a convoy passing by a security checkpost," said Mr Khan.
A spokesman for Pakistani Taleban chief Baitullah Mehsud told news agencies by telephone that militants would continue its attacks on security forces.
"It was retaliation for the US drone strikes and security forces will have to see more attacks because our people have suffered many losses in the missile attacks," he said.
Militants based in Pakistan's north-west have launched attacks with increasing frequency in recent months.Militants based in Pakistan's north-west have launched attacks with increasing frequency in recent months.
The checkpoint in Doaba is near a major Taleban base located in the Orakzai tribal region, AP reported.