25 killed in suicide car blast in NW Pakistan

At least 25 people including an unknown number of policemen were killed and over 50 others injured in a suicide car bomb attack that took place Thursday evening in Pakistan's northwest city of Hangu, some 70 kilometers southwest of Peshawar, reported local Urdu TV channel Samaa.

A vehicle destroyed in a suicide blast is seen in northwest Pakistan's Hangu on May 26, 2011. At least 25 people including an unknown number of policemen were killed and over 50 others injured in a suicide car bomb attack that took place Thursday evening in Hangu, some 70 kilometers southwest of Peshawar, reported local Urdu TV channel Samaa. [Stringer/Xinhua]

According to sources of Xinhua in the city and local media reports, the blast took place at about 18:15 p.m. local time near a district police officer's building on the Kohat road of the city, where a lot of police and government buildings are located.

The office of the district police officer was damaged in the blast, said the local media reports, but it is not known whether the district police officer was hurt or not.

Most of the people killed in the blast are police, said hospital sources. Sources of Xinhua in the city said at least ten policemen were killed.

An estimated 15 shops nearby the blast site were damaged, said the local media reports, adding that one small hotel where many police are said to be eating inside was completely destroyed and six shops surrounding the hotel also collapsed following the blast.

Many people are feared buried under the collapsed buildings, said rescue team members.

An estimated 450 kg of explosives were used in the blast, said police sources.

According to local media report, Pakistani Taliban has claimed responsibility for the suicide car bomb attack to avenge the killing of the al-Qaida chief Osama bin Laden by the U.S. forces in Pakistan early this month.

People gather at the blast site in northwest Pakistan's Hangu on May 26, 2011. [Stringer/Xinhua]


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