Seven killed in blast in northwest Pakistan

At least seven persons were killed and nine others injured when a passenger van was targeted with a bomb in the restive Khyber tribal region of northwest Pakistan.

Islamabad: At least seven persons were killed
and nine others injured when a passenger van was targeted with
a bomb in the restive Khyber tribal region of northwest
Pakistan on Wednesday, officials said.

The van with 15 people was going from Khurrakai village
to Jamrud, one of the main towns of Khyber Agency, when the
bomb went off.

It was unclear whether the blast was caused by a roadside
bomb or an explosive device planted in the van, officials told
the media.

Seven persons were killed instantly and nine others
injured. The wounded were taken to a nearby hospital.

Footage on television showed that the van was reduced to
a mangled heap of metal. People rushed the injured to hospital
in private vehicles.

Doctors described the condition of three of the injured
as serious.

Khyber Agency is one of seven semi-autonomous tribal
regions in Pakistan’s tribal belt, where Taliban and al Qaeda
elements have strongholds.

Pakistani troops are currently operating in Khyber Agency
against militants led by commander Mangal Bagh Afridi, who
heads the banned Lashkar-e-Islam.

PTI

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