The attacker detonated his explosive vest near the car of Superintendent of Police Kalam Khan at Pishta Khara Chowk in Peshawar, the capital of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province.
A suicide bomber on Thursday targeted a police vehicle in Peshawar city of northwest Pakistan, killing a senior police official and injuring four others, officials said.
The attacker detonated his explosive vest near the car of Superintendent of Police Kalam Khan at Pishta Khara Chowk in Peshawar, the capital of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province.
The official was on his way to work with his bodyguards and driver at the time of the attack.
Khan was killed instantly while his driver, two bodyguards and a passerby were injured.
The wounded policemen were taken to a nearby hospital.
Assistant Inspector General of Police Shafqat Malik, who heads the bomb disposal squad, told reporters that the attack was carried out by a suicide bomber.
The attacker's suicide vest was packed with about six kilograms of explosives and ball bearings. The body parts of the bomber were found at the site, officials said. Security forces cordoned off the area and launched a search operation.
Khan's vehicle was reduced to a heap of mangled metal by the blast. Footage on television showed a door of the car was pierced by dozens of ball bearings. Bloodstains could be seen on the door and interior of the vehicle.
Khan was on the hit list of Taliban as he had headed an operation against militants in the area between Peshawar and the Khyber tribal region.
Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa had witnessed a spike in militant violence over the past few days amidst reports of differences among Pakistani Taliban commanders on the issue of holding talks with the government.
Hardliners led by Pakistani Taliban chief Hakimullah Mehsud have warned they will carry out more attacks against the government and security forces.
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