15 killed as passenger vans attacked in northern Pakistan

Islamabad, Aug. 16 (Xinhua-ANI): At least 15 people were killed and several others injured when some unknown gunmen opened fire at three passenger vans in Pakistan's northern province of Gilgit- Baltistan on Thursday, local media reported.

Aaj TV reported that some 10 to 15 unknown gunmen ambushed three vans carrying passengers from Rawalpindi to Gilgit in Babu Sir area of the province at about 11:00 a.m. local time Thursday.

The attackers, who were reportedly in army uniforms, ordered all the people on board to show their identity cards, then dragged out some of the passengers and opened indiscriminate firing at them.

The attackers fled from the scene after carrying out the attack.

No group claimed responsibility for the attack yet.

The incident happened in a far-flung area and it took four hours for the police and rescue teams to reach the site.

This is the second incident of bus attack in the area over the last six months. Earlier in February, 18 people were killed and five others injured in a passenger bus attack of a sectarian nature in Gilgit. (Xinhua-ANI)