Peshawar: Gunmen attack political agent’s office, 5 dead

Four levies personnel were among five killed while seven others were injured here on Monday after suicide bombers wearing Levies uniforms raided and opened fire at the office of a political agent, officials said. One of the suicide bombers was able to enter the office after he opened fire at Levies personnel deployed at the main door. The bomber was injured when Levies forces retaliated and he later detonated the bomb. An exchange of fire which lasted for twenty minutes took place between the Levies forces and the second suicide bomber. Three Levies personnel were killed during this exchange while another personal of the force and a civilian succumbed to their injuries at the hospital. The suicide bomber detonated himself near the office of the political and assistant political agent. The roof of the control room collapsed due to the blast in which the political agent of Landi Kotal and seven others were injured and rushed to the Lady Reading Hospital. According to eyewitnesses, tribal officials and members of political parties had gathered at the office to hold talks at the time of the explosion. "We were holding a meeting and some others were joining us when firing started inside the political office, and then there was a loud blast, and again heavy firing began," said tribal politician Niaz Ahmad Khan. Officials said the attackers had come to spring prisoners brought to the political agents office. There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack.