PESHAWAR: The death toll on Monday rose to 17 in a suicide attack on a police station during a peace rally in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province in northwest Pakistan after three more persons succumbed to their injuries, police said.
The explosion took place on Sunday when the Swat Peace Rally was in progress right across the police station in Kabal town in Swat district.
At least 14 people, including five security men, were killed and over a dozen were injured in the suicide attack on Sunday, officials said.
The death toll from the suicide bombing rose to 17, including seven police personnel and 10 civilians, after three more injured persons succumbed to their injuries at a hospital, police said on Monday.
The three victims were among those admitted for treatment following the blast. Police said that 12 injured persons remain under treatment at Saidu Sharif Teaching Hospital, including eight police personnel and four civilians.
Malakand Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Syed Fida Hussain said the suicide bomber reportedly belonging to banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) attempted to enter the police station but was stopped by a police officer before reaching inside.
"The attacker then detonated explosives at the police station's main gate," he said, adding that the police lines and other sensitive government installations were located nearby.
Police have registered a terrorism case with the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) over the suicide attack.
According to the First Information Report (FIR) lodged at CTD Police Station Swat, a protest organised by the Pasoon organisation was underway at Kabal Chowk, having started at around 4:00 pm, when the attack took place.
The FIR stated that at approximately 6:04 pm, a powerful suicide blast struck the main gate of Kabal Police Station, leaving several police personnel and civilians dead and injured.
It said initial suspicion points to the involvement of banned TTP commander Muzaffar and his associates in carrying out the attack.
A case under anti-terrorism laws has been registered, and an investigation into the incident has been launched, police said.
However, no group or individual has claimed responsibility for the attack.
The Swat Peace Rally was organised by Swat Aman Jirga (local tribal council) with participants raising slogans and carrying placards to demand peace in the area.
They alleged that police inaction has resulted in deterioration in the security situation in the past few months.