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Deadly blast in Pakistani village Deadly blast in Pakistani village
(20 minutes later)
Nine people, including seven children, have died in a blast at a village in Pakistan's southern Punjab province, hospital officials say. Nine people, including seven children, have died in a blast at a village in Pakistan's Punjab province, hospital officials say.
Some 70 people were injured in the explosion at a house that was used for teaching religious lessons to children.Some 70 people were injured in the explosion at a house that was used for teaching religious lessons to children.
Some two dozen homes reportedly collapsed in the blast in the Mian Channu area of the Khanewal district.Some two dozen homes reportedly collapsed in the blast in the Mian Channu area of the Khanewal district.
Taliban influence has reportedly spread in Punjab recently, says the BBC's M Ilyas Khan, in Islamabad.Taliban influence has reportedly spread in Punjab recently, says the BBC's M Ilyas Khan, in Islamabad.
Punjab's main city, Lahore, has been the target of deadly attacks in recent months, including one on the Sri Lankan cricket team. Punjab's main city, Lahore, has been the target of deadly attacks in recent months, including one on the Sri Lankan cricket team in March.
Huge crater 'Indoctrination centre'
Pakistan's military is currently in the middle of operations in its north-west to clear the Swat Valley and South Waziristan regions of Taliban fighters.Pakistan's military is currently in the middle of operations in its north-west to clear the Swat Valley and South Waziristan regions of Taliban fighters.
The people of the village say they saw a flame rise to the sky and then the ground shook like in an earthquake Kamran KhanPolice officer Pakistan conflict map Who are the Taliban?The people of the village say they saw a flame rise to the sky and then the ground shook like in an earthquake Kamran KhanPolice officer Pakistan conflict map Who are the Taliban?
District co-ordination officer Kamran Khan said that the blast went off in a teacher's house, where Koranic lessons for children were regularly held.District co-ordination officer Kamran Khan said that the blast went off in a teacher's house, where Koranic lessons for children were regularly held.
Police believe there was probably an ammunition dump in the home. Police say there was an ammunition dump in the home.
Diggers uncovered a steel trunk from the debris of the house which contained pamphlets, CDs and audio tapes.
The tapes were said to be mostly of sermons by clerics linked to the banned Lashkar-e-Jhangvi (LJ) group, a Sunni extremist organisation close to the Taliban and heavily involved in sectarian killings in Pakistan.
Our correspondent says this would suggest the arms dump belonged to LJ and that the place was being used by the militant group to indoctrinate children.
Mr Khan said: "The blast was heard over a vast area and from the extent of damage it has caused it looks like a large quantity of explosives was involved.Mr Khan said: "The blast was heard over a vast area and from the extent of damage it has caused it looks like a large quantity of explosives was involved.
"The people of the village say they saw a flame rise to the sky and then the ground shook like in an earthquake.""The people of the village say they saw a flame rise to the sky and then the ground shook like in an earthquake."
Huge crater
Dr Naim Sadiq, a hospital official, said the dead were seven children, one woman and a man.Dr Naim Sadiq, a hospital official, said the dead were seven children, one woman and a man.
Witnesses said no bodies had so far been recovered from the rubble of the house where the blast went off.
The dead and injured were mostly recovered from the debris of ruined houses nearby.
Television footage showed police collecting evidence from a crater about 40ft (12 metres) wide and nearly 8ft (2.5 metres) deep.Television footage showed police collecting evidence from a crater about 40ft (12 metres) wide and nearly 8ft (2.5 metres) deep.
Small rockets and missiles propelled by shoulder-fired launchers were among the material recovered, said police. Small rockets and missiles propelled by shoulder-fired launchers were among the other material recovered, said police.
Civil defence officials are scanning the area with metal detectors, witnesses say.Civil defence officials are scanning the area with metal detectors, witnesses say.