At least 10 personnel killed in attack on police station in Pakistan

The South Asian nation has seen an escalation in incidents of violence in the last few days as it approaches its national elections later this week.

Several militants launched an assault on a police station in northern Pakistan in the early hours of Monday, resulting in the death of at least 10 officers, as reported by a senior commander.

Policemen stand guard along a street ahead of Pakistan's national elections 2024. (AFP/File)

Reuters reported that at least six police officers were injured in the attack.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa police chief Akhtar Hayat Gandapur told AFP that an attack took place in Dera Ismail Khan district's Chaudhwan police station.

The attack on Monday transpired at 3am local time (2200 GMT), with militants initially engaging constables using snipers before infiltrating the police station, as reported by law enforcement officers in Pakistan's Draban region, Reuters reported.

He said, “More than 30 terrorists launched an attack from three directions. There was an exchange of fire for over two and a half hours.”

Deputy superintendent of police in Draban Malik Anees ul Hassan said, “After entering the building of the police station, the terrorists used hand grenades which caused more casualties to the police.”

In the lead-up to its national elections later this week, the South Asian nation has witnessed a surge in incidents of violence in recent days.