Islamabad, Dec 24 (IANS): Nine Pakistani paramilitary troopers were killed Saturday when a suicide bomber rammed his explosives-laden car into their office building in northwest Pakistan, police said.
Seventeen others were injured in the attack at the Frontier Corps' office in Bannu town of Khyber Pakhtonkhwa province, Geo TV reported.
The bomber drove his vehicle packed with explosives into the main office of Tochi Scouts next to Kohat road in Bannu.
The explosion damaged the office building and destroyed a check post near it.
The injured were shifted to the Combined Military Hospital in the city.
The Frontiers Corps' troopers are deployed in the North Waziristan district, bordering Afghanistan.
Media reports had earlier put the toll at five.
A preliminary probe revealed that at least 200 kg of explosives were used in the blast. No organisation has claimed the responsibility for the blast yet.