Militants stormed a building used by a U.S.-based charity in Pakistan on Wednesday, sparking heavy clashes with police and killing at least five people, police and an aid worker said.
The gunmen attacked offices of World Vision near Oghi town, in Mansehra district of North West Frontier Province, police and the aid worker said.
Police said five people were killed, but an aid worker told AFP on condition of anonymity that six World Vision staff died and six were seriously wounded.
"They first set off a bomb and then opened fire. We don't know the exact number of casualties but initial reports suggest four to five people were killed," senior police officer Sajid Khan told Reuters by telephone.
"So far we have confirmation about the deaths of five people, including two women," senior police officer Waqar Ahmed told AFP by telephone.
"They opened fire and also exploded hand grenades," he said. The aid worker confirmed the attack and subsequent clashes.
Mansehra town has been a hub for relief efforts following an earthquake that killed 73,000 people in October 2005.
The area has been generally peaceful although there have been occasional incidents of violence.
In 2008, gunmen attacked an office of the Plan International aid agency in Mansehra town, killing four Pakistani staff.
Mansehra is to the east of the Swat region, where the army launched an offensive a year ago to clear Pakistani Taliban.
The offensive raised fears that the militants might be pushed into Mansehra.
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