MARDAN - At least eight persons, including four policemen, were killed and 25 others injured on Friday as a result of a suicide attack in front of the office of Deputy Inspector General (DIG), Police, Mardan Range, Mardan. According to officials, the suicide bomber first attempted to enter the office of DIG Syed Akhtar Ali Shah and when he failed to do so, he blew himself up in front of the office, located near Frontier House, the Camp Office of Chief Minister NWFP. Syed Akhtar Ali Shah later told the media that he was the target of the suicide bomber. DIG also said if the bomber had succeeded in entering the office, the casualties would have been much higher. Soon after the suicide blast, high-ranking civil and police authorities, including District Police Officer (DPO) Mardan Muhammad Iqbal Khan, former federal minister and central leader of Awami National Party Muhammad Azam Khan Hoti and Tehsil Nazim Mardan Ihsan Ullah Bacha, reached the spot. The killed persons have been identified as Constable Akhtar Zada, Constable Adil, Constable Tariq, Constable Sher Nawaz, Zeeshan, Sangin and Nasir. The identity of another killed person has not yet been ascertained. The body of suicide bomber, which blew into pieces, was taken in possession by the police authorities. The policemen who were injured in the incident were Sardar Hussain, Fakhr-e-Alam and a clerk of the DIG office, Abdul Aziz. Some of the injured civilians have also been identified as Naveed son of Shams-ur-Rehman, Amin-ul-Haq son of Abdul Akbar, Sajjad Ali, Bacha Rehman, Sharifullah son of Faqir, Sher Zameen, Hamid, Gul Sher, Manzoor, Aminul Haq and Zulfiqar while the identity others have not been ascertained. The condition of 12 injured is reported precarious. The rescue operation was undertaken promptly. EDO (Health) Dr Arshad Ahmed Khan, Medical Superintendent District Headquarter Hospital Dr Abdur Raheem and all doctors, nurses and other staff members remained busy treating the injured persons. President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani, NWFP Governor Owais Ghani and NWFP Chief Minister Amir Haider Khan Hoti, Chairman Senate Mohammadmian Soomro, Deputy Chairman Jan Muhammad Jamali have expressed their deep grief and sorrow over the deadly suicide blast.