India, May 10 -- A suicide bomber and a group of armed militants targeted a security checkpoint in northwestern Pakistan late on Saturday, killing at least three police officers, officials said. The attack took place as an explosives-filled vehicle was detonated near the post in Bannu, leading to a heavy exchange of gunfire, they added.

The incident occurred in the Bannu district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, which shares a border with Afghanistan. Several blasts were heard soon after the assault, and the explosion's force caused security post to collapse and damaged nearby homes, police official Zahid Khan was quoted as saying by Associated Press.

"The terrorists first attacked the police post with an explosives-laden car, and then militants ...