Pakistan security forces destroy al-Qaeda religious school, killing "several" militants

Pakistani security forces destroyed an al-Qaida linked madrasah in northwestern Bajur tribal area bordering Afghanistan on Monday, killing "several" militants, army spokesman Major General Shaukat Sultan said.

The attack happened at 5 a.m. of local time targeting a religious school compound holding 70-80 militants in a village near the town of Khar, the main town in the Bajur tribal district, said Sultan.

He said the facility was destroyed but it was not immediately clear how many people had been killed.

"We received confirmed intelligence reports that 70-80 militants were hiding in a madrassa used as a terrorist-training facility, which was destroyed by an army strike, led by helicopters," Sultan said.

Soldiers on the ground were tallying the number of dead, said Sultan.

Source: Xinhua