Dutch ambassador to Pakistan injured in helicopter crash

The Dutch ambassador to Pakistan has been seriously injured in a helicopter crash in the far north of the country in which six people died, broadcaster Nos says on Friday afternoon.

The dead are the Philippine and Norwegian ambassadors, the wives of the Indonesian and Malaysian envoys and two Pakistani pilots. The group was on its way to the opening of a tourism project in the Gilgit-Baltistan region.

It is not clear why the helicopter, which was carrying 11 people, came down but a Pakistan army spokesman is quoted as saying it was a technical fault. The aircraft was one of three travelling to the location.

According to the BBC, the Pakistani Taliban (TTP) have claimed responsibility for bringing down the helicopter but there is no confirmation of the claim. The area is not a Taliban stronghold.

The helicopter came down on a school and it is not yet clear if there were any casualties on the ground, the BBC says.

It is also unclear the seriousness of the injuries received by the other five people on board.