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Carnage in Pakistan market attack Carnage in Pakistan market attack
(about 1 hour later)
At least 25 people have been killed and many injured in a suicide car bomb attack at a village market in north-west Pakistan, police say.At least 25 people have been killed and many injured in a suicide car bomb attack at a village market in north-west Pakistan, police say.
The explosion is said to have taken place at a busy intersection close to the garrison town of Kohat.The explosion is said to have taken place at a busy intersection close to the garrison town of Kohat.
Most of the dead are said to be members of the Shia Muslim minority. The area has a history of sectarian tension.Most of the dead are said to be members of the Shia Muslim minority. The area has a history of sectarian tension.
The village is also close to the Orakzai tribal region, a stronghold of the Taliban's present chief. A militant group calling itself Lahskar-e-Jhangvi al Almi has claimed responsibility for the attack.
Hakimullah Mehsud took over as chief of the Pakistani Taliban - a Sunni group - after his predecessor, Baitullah Mehsud, was killed by a US missile strike. They say the attack was in revenge for the death of a prominent religious leader. Maulana M Amin was killed in Hangu in June 2009.
But there has been no immediate claim of responsibility for the latest attack. Correspondents say the group is likely to be linked to Lashkar-e-Jhangvi, a Sunni extremist group which has links to the Taliban.
Shia village
Astarzai village, where the blast took place, is a Shia-majority area and many Shia Muslims run businesses there.
The car bomb was detonated close to a hotel owned by a Shia Muslim businessman.
ANALYSIS BBC's Aleem Maqbool in Islamabad The Taliban operate widely in Kohat and had at one point warned barber shops in the area to stop giving, what they described as, un-Islamic haircuts.ANALYSIS BBC's Aleem Maqbool in Islamabad The Taliban operate widely in Kohat and had at one point warned barber shops in the area to stop giving, what they described as, un-Islamic haircuts.
Pakistan's army has since carried out major operations against the Taliban in the North West of the country and last month a US drone strike killed the Pakistani Taliban chief Baitullah Mehsud.Pakistan's army has since carried out major operations against the Taliban in the North West of the country and last month a US drone strike killed the Pakistani Taliban chief Baitullah Mehsud.
But there are signs that the Taliban is trying to reassert itself under its new leader Hakimullah.But there are signs that the Taliban is trying to reassert itself under its new leader Hakimullah.
Police officials said that many people had been injured by the explosion and they expect casualty figures to rise considerably. Astarzai village, where the blast took place, has a substantial Shia population and is close to the Orakzai tribal region, a stronghold of the Taliban's present chief.
Witnesses told the BBC the blast was so powerful it nearly demolished one building in the area. Hakimullah Mehsud took over as chief of the Pakistani Taliban - a Sunni group - after his predecessor, Baitullah Mehsud, was killed by a US missile strike.
'People trapped'
The car bomb was detonated close to a hotel owned by a Shia Muslim businessman.
Police officials said that many people had been injured by the explosion.
Witnesses told the BBC the blast was so powerful it nearly demolished several buildings in the area.
"Dozens of shops were destroyed. Their roofs caved in and many people were trapped under the debris," a local police official told the AFP news agency."Dozens of shops were destroyed. Their roofs caved in and many people were trapped under the debris," a local police official told the AFP news agency.
Television footage from the local hospital showed bloodied and bandaged patients being treated by medical staff.
"I was standing in front of my shop when all of a sudden, a car blew up outside a restaurant," Sohail Ahmed told AFP from his hospital bed.
At the time of the explosion, the area was reported to be thronged with shoppers buying supplies for the weekend and the Muslim Eid festival, which is expected to start on Monday.At the time of the explosion, the area was reported to be thronged with shoppers buying supplies for the weekend and the Muslim Eid festival, which is expected to start on Monday.
Astarzai lies 18km west of the town of Kohat, where a bomb was detonated on Thursday wounding at least six people. Astarzai lies 18km (11 miles) west of the town of Kohat, where a bomb was detonated on Thursday wounding at least six people.
The BBC's M Ilyas Khan in Islamabad says that Sunni Taliban militants in the area have carried out frequent attacks on minority Shias.The BBC's M Ilyas Khan in Islamabad says that Sunni Taliban militants in the area have carried out frequent attacks on minority Shias.
NORTH-WEST PAKISTAN BLASTS 18 September: At least 25 people killed in a suicide bombing at a market in the north-west30 August: Suicide bomber kills 14 police recruits in Swat valley27 August: 22 police guards killed at checkpoint on Afghan border14 August: Seven killed in market blast in Dera Ismail Khan 5 June: Mosque blast kills at least 38 in Upper Dir district 20 February: Dozens of Shias killed in market bombing in the north-west
Sunni Muslims account for around 80% of Pakistan's population and are the dominant group in the tribal areas, although Orakzai has significant Shia numbers.Sunni Muslims account for around 80% of Pakistan's population and are the dominant group in the tribal areas, although Orakzai has significant Shia numbers.
Pakistan's army has been bombing Taliban hideouts in Orakzai for the past month, correspondents say.Pakistan's army has been bombing Taliban hideouts in Orakzai for the past month, correspondents say.
There were reports of more aerial bombings in the area on Friday morning, shortly before the bomb attack.There were reports of more aerial bombings in the area on Friday morning, shortly before the bomb attack.
The last month has seen a series of major attacks on targets across the NWFP.The last month has seen a series of major attacks on targets across the NWFP.
On 30 August a suspected suicide bomb attack in Pakistan's north-western Swat valley killed at least 14 police recruits and injured others.On 30 August a suspected suicide bomb attack in Pakistan's north-western Swat valley killed at least 14 police recruits and injured others.
And in February, at least 25 people were killed when a bomb exploded at the funeral procession of a prominent Shia Muslim cleric.
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