Three Plan staff killed in armed attack

Plan has suspended operations in Pakistan following an attack on its offices in which three members of staff were killed by gunmen in Mansehra in the North West Frontier.

All Plan offices in Pakistan were closed after the attack in which three staff and one community volunteer were killed and a further two people seriously injured. All of those killed were Pakistani men.

Offices in the capital Islamabad and two programme offices in the Punjab were briefly reopened, but all field work has now been suspended pending an investigation into the attack and a review of security measures.

The Mansehra programme office burned to the ground after attackers set off three explosive devices.

A fourth man - a visitor to the office - was also killed after gunmen burst into Plan's building and opened fire before letting off three explosive devices.

All the dead are male, and two more workers remain seriously injured in hospital.

The attacked occurred on the afternoon of Monday 25 February when a group of 6 to 12 men, carrying guns and grenades, marched into the office and fired indiscriminately before setting off the grenades at 4.15pm local time. The office was burned to the ground.

Plan employs 126 staff in the country, the majority of who are Pakistani nationals.

The motive for Monday’s attack remains unclear and is being investigated by Pakistani authorities.