Suicide Bomber Blows Himself Up in NW Pakistan

A suicide bomber blew himself up outside a police station in northwestern Pakistan after officers opened fire on him on Wednesday, police said, adding that there were no other casualties.

The incident took place outside Jandol police station in the mountainous Lower Dir district, one of the tribal areas bordering Pakistan where Taliban and al-Qaida militants have strongholds.

"A man was coming towards the police station, when police shouted to stop him he began running and blew himself up when police started firing," senior police official Akhtar Hayat Gandapur told Agence France Presse.

There were no other casualties or damage, he said.

Nobody immediately claimed responsibility for the attack, but Taliban militants have been carrying out similar bombings and suicide attacks in Peshawar.

Pakistan is on the frontline of the U.S.-led war on al-Qaida. Since July 2007, a Taliban-led insurgency has been fighting against the U.S.-allied government.