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Deadly blast hits Pakistani town | Deadly blast hits Pakistani town |
(9 minutes later) | |
More than 20 people have been killed and many more injured in a car bombing in the north-western Pakistani town of Charsadda, police say. | More than 20 people have been killed and many more injured in a car bombing in the north-western Pakistani town of Charsadda, police say. |
The blast occurred at a busy traffic intersection in the town, which lies north-east of Peshawar. | The blast occurred at a busy traffic intersection in the town, which lies north-east of Peshawar. |
The attack is the third in as many days in North West Frontier Province. | |
More than 300 people have been killed in a wave of attacks as Pakistani troops launched an assault against the Taliban in South Waziristan. | More than 300 people have been killed in a wave of attacks as Pakistani troops launched an assault against the Taliban in South Waziristan. |
"More than 20 bodies have been brought to the hospital so far," a medical superintendent at Charsadda's district hospital told the BBC. | "More than 20 bodies have been brought to the hospital so far," a medical superintendent at Charsadda's district hospital told the BBC. |
Police have not yet confirmed whether Tuesday's blast was a suicide bombing. There was no immediate claim of responsibility. | Police have not yet confirmed whether Tuesday's blast was a suicide bombing. There was no immediate claim of responsibility. |
'Terrible scene' | 'Terrible scene' |
"A vehicle was used in this bomb blast. I can't say whether it was a suicide attack or whether the bomb was planted," district police chief Mohammad Riaz said, the AFP news agency reported. | "A vehicle was used in this bomb blast. I can't say whether it was a suicide attack or whether the bomb was planted," district police chief Mohammad Riaz said, the AFP news agency reported. |
The blast happened in a busy shopping area in the Pakistani town | The blast happened in a busy shopping area in the Pakistani town |
The bomb went off as shoppers thronged the main market in Charsadda. Eyewitnesses said it was so powerful that surrounding buildings were severely damaged. | The bomb went off as shoppers thronged the main market in Charsadda. Eyewitnesses said it was so powerful that surrounding buildings were severely damaged. |
The BBC's Syed Shoaib Hasan in Islamabad says that ordinary citizens are increasingly being targeted in bomb attacks and analysts believe that this is because the militants are cornered and under great pressure by the military in South Waziristan. | The BBC's Syed Shoaib Hasan in Islamabad says that ordinary citizens are increasingly being targeted in bomb attacks and analysts believe that this is because the militants are cornered and under great pressure by the military in South Waziristan. |
Ambulances ferried survivors to hospitals in Charsadda and Peshawar, 40km (25 miles) away. Reports say up to 50 people were injured. | Ambulances ferried survivors to hospitals in Charsadda and Peshawar, 40km (25 miles) away. Reports say up to 50 people were injured. |
Fear of suicide bombings | Fear of suicide bombings |
Eyewitnesses said that the vehicle blew up in the heart of Charsadda on a road lined with fruit and juice shops, tearing off shop roofs and leaving the the ground strewn with slippers, human flesh and broken push carts. | Eyewitnesses said that the vehicle blew up in the heart of Charsadda on a road lined with fruit and juice shops, tearing off shop roofs and leaving the the ground strewn with slippers, human flesh and broken push carts. |
"It was a terrible scene. There were injured and wounded everywhere," one witness told reporters. "I joined the relief and rescue operation and myself removed about a dozen casualties." | "It was a terrible scene. There were injured and wounded everywhere," one witness told reporters. "I joined the relief and rescue operation and myself removed about a dozen casualties." |
"We have declared an emergency in the hospital," a doctor in Charsadda told AFP. | "We have declared an emergency in the hospital," a doctor in Charsadda told AFP. |
On Monday, a suicide bomber killed himself and at least three people near a police checkpoint in Peshawar. A day earlier at least 12 were killed in a suicide bomb attack near the city. | On Monday, a suicide bomber killed himself and at least three people near a police checkpoint in Peshawar. A day earlier at least 12 were killed in a suicide bomb attack near the city. |
Last month a massive blast at Peshawar's Peepal Mandi market killed 118 people. | Last month a massive blast at Peshawar's Peepal Mandi market killed 118 people. |
The government blamed the attack on Pakistani Taliban, but the head of the group denied being behind it. | The government blamed the attack on Pakistani Taliban, but the head of the group denied being behind it. |
Are you in the area? Did you witness the blast? Send us your comments. | Are you in the area? Did you witness the blast? Send us your comments. |
A selection of your comments may be published, displaying your name and location unless you state otherwise in the box below. | A selection of your comments may be published, displaying your name and location unless you state otherwise in the box below. |
The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions | The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions |