Three police officers were killed and two others injured in a suicide attack on a police compound in Peshawar early on Monday, 24 November, according to Pakistani authorities.

Security officials said a suicide bomber detonated himself at the main gate, after which two additional attackers attempted to storm the compound but were shot dead by police. The attack took place at around 8 a.m. local time.

Pakistani media, citing security sources, reported that three militants were involved. The government described the assailants as “Khawarij,” a term used by officials to refer to Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).

Authorities said the casualty toll would likely have been far higher had the two gunmen succeeded in entering the building.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the incident as a “terrorist attack” and praised the police response as “brave,” saying officers’ swift action prevented a larger loss of life.

No group has claimed responsibility for the attack.

The incident comes days after a powerful explosion in Islamabad killed at least 12 people and wounded 30 others. Following that blast, Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif warned that the country might launch military action inside Afghanistan.