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Pakistan: Suicide car-bomber strikes in Hangu | Pakistan: Suicide car-bomber strikes in Hangu |
(40 minutes later) | |
At least 24 people have been killed after a suicide bomber in a car struck government buildings in Pakistan's volatile north-west. | At least 24 people have been killed after a suicide bomber in a car struck government buildings in Pakistan's volatile north-west. |
The bomb went off near several buildings and shops in Hangu, close to Pakistan's tribal areas, causing considerable damage. | The bomb went off near several buildings and shops in Hangu, close to Pakistan's tribal areas, causing considerable damage. |
The district's police offices are also in the area and officers are among the casualties, police say. | The district's police offices are also in the area and officers are among the casualties, police say. |
On Monday militants attacked a naval base in Karachi, killing 16 people. | On Monday militants attacked a naval base in Karachi, killing 16 people. |
"The death toll can rise further, as many among the 45 wounded people are in serious condition," Fazal Naeem, a police spokesman in Hangu, told Reuters. | "The death toll can rise further, as many among the 45 wounded people are in serious condition," Fazal Naeem, a police spokesman in Hangu, told Reuters. |
Another police official, Latif Khan, said the blast had left a deep crater. | Another police official, Latif Khan, said the blast had left a deep crater. |
"The buildings housing the police station... were partially damaged but at least 15 shops, including a tea house and a restaurant are completely razed," he said. | "The buildings housing the police station... were partially damaged but at least 15 shops, including a tea house and a restaurant are completely razed," he said. |
The buildings also contain Hangu district courts, police said. | The buildings also contain Hangu district courts, police said. |
Witnesses said the blast was so powerful that they feared people were trapped in the rubble. | Witnesses said the blast was so powerful that they feared people were trapped in the rubble. |
Hangu, in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province, has a history of attacks by militants who frequently target the security forces. | |
The area also has a history of violence between its Shia and Sunni communities. | |
On Wednesday, four people were killed and 22 wounded in a suicide lorry-bomb attack on a police station in nearby Peshawar. | |
On Monday, Pakistani troops ended a siege by militants who attacked a naval air force base in Karachi, killing at least 16 people, including 10 soldiers. | |
The killing of al-Qaeda chief Osama Bin Laden by US special forces in Pakistani on 2 May has triggered a wave of militant attacks. | |
It has also raised tensions between Pakistan and the US. |