(Recast) 3rd LD Writethru: 12 killed, 27 injured in suicide attack on court in Pakistan

At least 12 people including four lawyers were killed and 27 others injured in a suicide attack on a district court in Pakistan's northwestern city of Mardan on Friday, officials said.

According to Deputy Inspector General of Police Ejaz Khan, the incident took place when a suicide bomber hurled a hand grenade to police guards at the entrance gate of the court and rushed to the courthouse, but a police guard chased him and opened fire at him before he could enter the court room.

Firing at the suicide bomber caused the explosion of his jacket that killed 12 people, including four lawyers and two policemen, and left 27 others injured, said Khan.

Earlier reports said the suicide bomber blew himself up at the entrance gate when guards asked him for body search.

According to rescue officer Haris Habib, at least eight of the injured were in critical condition who were being treated in the intensive care unit of the Mardan Medical Complex hospital of the city.

Soon after the attack, security forces, police and rescue teams rushed to the site and shifted the bodies and injured to the hospitals.

An official of the Bomb Disposal Squad said that around 5-6 kg of explosives along with ball bearings was used in the jacket of the suicide bomber.

Police and security forces have cordoned off the area and launched a search operation.

No group has claimed responsibility for the attack yet.

Pakistani President Mamnoon Hussain and Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif condemned the attack and expressed solidarity with families of those victims in the blast.

"The terrorists are being shattered by the security forces, due to which they are retaliating. We will not spare them, they will be wiped out from every corner of the country," said Sharif.

Earlier in the morning, Pakistani security forces killed four terrorists who attacked a residential complex of Warsak Dam near the country's northwestern city of Peshawar.

According to a Pakistan army spokesman, a group of four terrorists armed with suicide jackets and armed and ammunition entered the colony, after hitting a security guard.

"Security Forces promptly responded and surrounded the area. Exchange of fire took place and all four terrorists were killed," the spokesman said. Endit