The three detained militants were also among those killed in the Monday night clash,  the Cou­n­t­er­terrorism Department (CTD) told Dawn News.

The CTD said its officials were shifting the three militants from Mira­m­shah to Bannu when they were ambushed on the Mir Ali Bypass Road, possibly by the militants’ accomplices to free them from custody.

The police officials reta­l­i­a­ted, killing four assailants, while five militants managed to escape under cover of dar­k­ness.

The CTD said the detainees inside the van had been killed due to the assailants’ fire. The excha­nge of fire severely damaged some police vehicles.

Six militants killed in the attack were identified as Mehruddin, Abadur Rehman, Arshaad Ullah, Noor Qabil, Ashraf Ullah and Rifat Ullah. The identity of one attacker could not be immediately ascertained, reports Dawn News.

The militants, which according to the CTD were affiliated with the TTP, had been involved in several targeted killings, including that of constable Iftikhar.

They were also involved in many hand grenade attacks on security forces and police, including the one on the Cantonment police station, the CTD said.