At Least 17 Dead In Pakistan Suicide Attack

Victims are treated outside a hospital following a suicide bomb attack targeting a police station in Lakki Marwat.

Officials say at least 17 people were killed and more than 40 injured in a suicide bomb attack on a police station in northwestern Pakistan today.

It was the third suicide bombing in the country within a week.

Police say the bomber drove his car into the police station in the town of Lakki Marwat.

The casualties included police officers, adult civilians, and children going to school.

The Pakistani Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack, saying they targeted the police for encouraging residents to set up militias to fight the militants.

Nearly 100 people were killed last week in suicide bombings on processions of minority Shi'ite Muslims in the eastern city of Lahore and the southwestern city of Quetta. Those attacks were also claimed by the Pakistani Taliban.

Also today, Pakistani intelligence officials were quoted as saying a suspected U.S. missile strike killed at five alleged militants in the tribal area of North Waziristan.

compiled from agency reports