UPDATE - 12 killed, dozens injured in blasts in Pakistan police compound

UPDATES DEATH TOLL, NATURE OF BLAST, CHANGES HEADLINE

By Aamir Latif and Riyaz ul Khaliq

KARACHI, Pakistan / ISTANBUL, Türkiye (AA) – *** At least 12 policemen were killed and over 60 wounded in twin explosions inside a police compound in Pakistan’s northwestern Swat Valley on Monday evening, police and health officials said.

The explosions, which took place in quick succession, were said to come from an ammunition store inside a Counter Terrorism Department compound at around 8:20 p.m. local time (1520GMT).

Authorities fear a rise in the death toll, as at least eight injured are said to be in critical condition.

Local broadcasters initially described the explosions as an act of a suicide bomber, but police said the nature of the blasts has yet to be ascertained.

"According to initial investigation, it was not a suicide bombing or an attack," Shaukat Abbas, the Counter Terrorism Department head, told Anadolu by telephone.

He added that the explosions could be result of a blast in the ammunition store.

Khalid Sohail, the department’s deputy head, told Anadolu that the chances of a suicide bombing are remote as the explosions occurred deep inside the compound, near the ammunition store.

"There is no evidence, so far, that a suicide bomber breached the security at the entrance, reached the inside of the building and blew himself up," Sohail said.

"It could be the result of a blast in the ammunition store, apparently due to negligence," he said, adding: “We are investigating into the incident from all angles.”

Sohail said the building in which the ammunition store was located was completely flattened, while another building was partially damaged as several shells landed inside the structure.

- Former nest of militants

The scenic valley of Swat, which lies in the northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, was an epicenter of militancy until a 2008 military operation pushed the militants towards neighboring Afghanistan.

Geo News showed a group of rescuers trying to pull the dead and injured out of the rubble, while others placed them on stretchers and put them onto ambulances.

Another scene showed a crane removing giant pieces of concrete rubble in an attempt to make work easier for rescuers.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility.

Earlier, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned what he called a "suicide attack."

"Nation is deeply grieved over martyrdom of police officials," Sharif tweeted, pledging to "eliminate the scourge of terrorism."