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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. |
| The Pakistani Taliban have said they carried out the attack. | |
| Militant attacks have risen sharply since the killing of al-Qaeda chief Osama Bin Laden by US special forces in Pakistani on 2 May. | |
| "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. The bomb contained about 900lb (400kg) of explosives, officials said. | |
| Hangu, in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province, has a history of attacks by militants who frequently target the security forces. | 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. | The area also has a history of violence between its Shia and Sunni communities. |
| Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani strongly condemned the blast, describing the attackers as "the enemies of humanity". | |
| Pakistani Taliban spokesman Ehsanullah Ehsan told AFP news agency: "We accept responsibility for this attack. This was a small attack to avenge Osama's martyrdom. | |
| "Soon you will see bigger attacks. Revenge for Osama can't be satisfied just with small attacks." | |
| On Wednesday, four people were killed and 22 wounded in a suicide lorry-bomb attack on a police station in nearby Peshawar. | 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. | 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. |