At least five police officers were killed by a bomb during a polio vaccination campaign in Pakistan. More than twenty other people, mainly security forces, were injured, a police spokesperson told DPA today.
The Pakistani Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack in a statement. However, the attack was not aimed at vaccinators, but only at police officers.
AP/Rescue 1122 Emergency Department
In Pakistan, there are repeated attacks, sometimes fatal, against vaccination workers and the security forces who protect them. Polio vaccination is seen by some Islamic activists as a Western tool to sterilize Muslims.
Especially on the border with attacks from Afghanistan
Afghanistan and Pakistan are among the few countries where new infections by the pathogen still occur. Pakistan is also fighting against the strengthening of the Pakistani Taliban, who carry out attacks especially in the border region with Afghanistan.
According to the police spokesperson, the attack on the vaccination teams took place in the northwest of the country, close to the border with Afghanistan. The bomb exploded near a vehicle on the side of the road.