Suicide attacks kills 27 in Pakistan on New Year day

PESHAWAR/ISLAMABAD: In a bloody start to the new year, Pakistan witnessed a major terror attack when a suicide bomber rammed his explosives-laden vehicle into the wall of a playground in the country's northwest killing 27 people and injuring several others.

In a separate attack, a tribal elder associated with an anti-Taliban militia and five others were killed when the vehicle they were travelling in was targeted with a roadside bomb in the restive Bajaur region.

Tribal elder Malik Gul Shah Ali Khan and five others, including a minor boy, died when the vehicle was targeted with a remote controlled bomb in Salarzai sub-division of Bajaur Agency this morning, officials of the local administration said.

The suicide attack occurred at Shah Hasankhel village, located 25 km from Lakki Marwat in the southern part of the North West Frontier Province.

About 50 people were watching a volleyball game between two local teams when the bomber struck the playground's wall with his vehicle.

State-run PTV reported that 27 people were killed while police officials said several others were injured.

Several houses collapsed due to the powerful explosion and some people were buried in the rubble.