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Deadly blast hits Pakistani town Deadly blast hits Pakistani town
(about 4 hours 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. At least 24 people have been killed and more than 100 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 centre of the town, which lies north-east of Peshawar. The blast occurred as shoppers thronged the main market in Charsadda, which lies north-east of Peshawar.
The attack is the third in as many days in North West Frontier Province.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.
Police have not yet confirmed whether Tuesday's blast was a suicide bombing. There was no immediate claim of responsibility. Police say around 40kg of explosives had been placed in a car which then exploded outside a busy market. There was no immediate claim of responsibility.
The BBC's Syed Shoaib Hasan in Islamabad says ordinary citizens are increasingly being targeted in bomb attacks. Analysts believe 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 ordinary citizens are increasingly being targeted in bomb attacks. Analysts believe this is because the militants are cornered and under great pressure by the military in South Waziristan.
'Terrible scene''Terrible scene'
The bomb went off as shoppers thronged the main market in Charsadda. Eyewitnesses said the explosion was so powerful that surrounding buildings were severely damaged.
The blast happened in a busy shopping area in the Pakistani town
Eyewitnesses said it was so powerful that surrounding buildings were severely damaged.
"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.
Ambulances ferried survivors to hospitals in Charsadda and Peshawar, 40km (25 miles) away. Reports say up to 50 people were injured. "More than 20 bodies have been brought to the hospital so far," a medical superintendent at Charsadda's district hospital told the BBC.
Fear of suicide bombingsFear of suicide bombings
Ambulances ferried survivors to hospitals in Charsadda and Peshawar, 40km (25 miles) away.
Eyewitnesses said the vehicle blew up on a road lined with fruit and juice shops, tearing off shop roofs and leaving the ground strewn with slippers, body parts and broken push carts.Eyewitnesses said the vehicle blew up on a road lined with fruit and juice shops, tearing off shop roofs and leaving the ground strewn with slippers, body parts and broken push carts.
"It was a terrible scene. There were injured and wounded everywhere," one witness told reporters."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.""I joined the relief and rescue operation and myself removed about a dozen casualties."
A doctor in Charsadda told AFP: "We have declared an emergency in the hospital."A doctor in Charsadda told AFP: "We have declared an emergency in the hospital."
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.
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