Armed men kill 13 in Kurram district

PESHAWAR: Thirteen people were killed and five wounded on Friday when gunmen opened fire on two vehicles carrying Shias in Kurram district, officials said.

The vehicles were ambushed in Bagan town of Kurram district, and the victims "were all Shias", a security official said.

Earlier, local administration official Fazal Hussain told AFP that they were heading in a three-vehicle caravan from Parachinar to Peshawar.

"The attackers came in two vehicles. They opened fire and fled, leaving eight people dead, including a woman and a child," he said.

Khalid Umarzai, another senior administrative official, confirmed the incident and said the attackers also kidnapped over 20 Shas travelling in three coaches before fleeing.