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Blast kills at least 18 in Pakistan

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan, Jan. 12 (UPI) -- A blast set off by an explosives-laden vehicle targeting a police station and mosque in northwest Pakistan killed at least 18 people, authorities said.

The attack occurred Wednesday in a Bannu district village near Pakistan's North Waziristan tribal area and near the border with Afghanistan. In addition to the 18 killed, several others were wounded.

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The New York Times, quoting a security official, reported a suicide bomber rammed his vehicle into the structures located in a crowded section of the village.

CNN, quoting police, said the vehicle rammed the police station in Meeryan village, southwest of Bannu city. Police official Muhammad Iftikhar was quoted as saying at least 15 people were wounded and that the dead and wounded injured security force personnel, policemen and civilians.

The blast occurred as people were praying in the mosque.

The BBC said the vehicle rammed the police station and quoted witnesses who said parts of the police station and the mosque had collapsed.

The attack occurred on the same day as U.S. Vice President Joe Biden was in Islamabad for talks with Pakistan's civil and military leadership.

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