Bomb blast in Peshawar

PESHAWAR: In continuing wave of violence in Pakistan's northwest, a suicide car bomber blew himself up at a police check post on Peshawar's Pakistani policemen examine the site of a suicide car bomb blast on the outskirts of Peshawar.

outskirts on Saturday, killing 10 people, including women and children, and injuring over 25 others.

The bomber detonated his explosive-laden vehicle, packed with 50 kg of explosives, when he was flagged at the checkpoint at Pishtakhara Chowk, the main entry point to Peshawar from the troubled Khyber tribal region.

The powerful blast blew up a number of other vehicles lined up at the check post. A large number of people were present in a nearby bus stand and commercial area when the blast occurred at about 4.15pm (local time). Hospital officials said 10 people, including two children, two women and two policemen, were killed and over 25 injured.

Several of the injured, including women, are in a critical condition, they said.

The bomber came in a car from the direction of Bara, a town in Khyber Agency, and blew himself up when police were checking his vehicle, district administration chief Shahibzada Anees said. Security forces cordoned off the area as ambulances took bodies and the injured to three nearby hospitals. An emergency was declared in hospitals across Peshawar.