Gunmen in Pakistan kill police officer escorting polio vaccination workers

In the latest round of violence affecting health workers in Pakistan, "[g]unmen riding on a motorcycle shot and killed a police officer protecting polio workers during a U.N.-backed vaccination campaign in northwestern Pakistan on Tuesday, the police said," the Associated Press reports (Khan, 1/29). The policeman, who was escorting two female polio workers, "was killed when gunmen opened fire on them in the Swabi district of northern Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, said Faazil Khan, a police official," CNN writes, adding, "The two women ... survived the attack and returned to their headquarters after the incident, he said" (Khan, 1/29). "Health officials say a total of 538 immunization teams were deployed in Swabi district on Monday, each accompanied by a policeman for protection," BBC News states, noting all non-governmental organizations in Swabi have suspended activities, according to officials (1/29). However, CNN reports, "The campaign is scheduled to end on Wednesday and will continue despite the attack, said Dr. Mohammad Riaz, who is in charge of the campaign" (1/29).