Pakistan suicide bombing kills dozens
Baku, December 25 (AZERTAC). At least 40 people have died in a suicide bomb attack on a large crowd receiving aid in north-west Pakistan. The blast took place in the town of Khar in the Bajaur region, in tribal areas close to the Afghan border - a Taliban and al-Qaeda stronghold. People displaced by fighting had been getting food at a distribution centre. Reports say at least another 50 people have been injured and the death toll could rise after the attack, which officials blamed on a female attacker.
Saturday`s bombing was the latest in a string of recent attacks in Pakistan`s north-west. No group has so far said it carried out the attack on the centre, used by the World Food Programme and other aid agencies.
“I myself have counted 40 bodies but the death toll could rise as several wounded people are in critical condition,” Dosti Rehman, an official at the main government hospital in the region, said.
Dozens of injured people are being taken to hospital by helicopter. The bomber was a dressed in a full-length burka and reportedly threw a grenade after resisting a search. A number of police officials said the attacker was actually a woman, rather than someone wearing the burka as a disguise.
Those in the crowd were displaced members of the Salarzai tribe, which has supported the army`s operations against the Taliban.
Pakistani Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gillani condemned the attack and said those responsible had no regard for humanity or religion.
Other news in this section
