An explosion has killed five people and injured at least 25 at a luxury hotel in the north-west Pakistani city of Peshawar, officials say.
A huge explosion has killed five people and injured at least 25 at a luxury hotel in the north-west Pakistani city of Peshawar, officials say.
Police named the hotel as the five-star Pearl Continental, and an unconfirmed report suggests that foreign guests are among those hurt.
The blast struck the five-star Pearl Continental, creating a scene of chaos outside as police rushed to and fro and Pakistani men stood looking stunned.
Peshawar is capital of Pakistan's troubled North West Frontier Province.
An Associated Press reporter said he had seen several injured foreigners.
A series of bombs have hit cities including Peshawar since a government crackdown on Taliban militants.
A series of bombs have hit cities including Peshawar since a government crackdown on Taliban militants.
TV reports said the hotel had been subjected to a gun and bomb attack.
Peshawar is capital of Pakistan's troubled North West Frontier Province, close to the unrest in the Swat valley.
A government investigator, Sahibzada Anees, was quoted by Reuters news agency as saying officials were trying to establish whether a device had been planted or it was a suicide attack.
Pearl Continental's website describes its hotel in Peshawar as "overlooking the famous Peshawar golf course and the historic Bala Hisar Fort".
Pearl Continental's website describes its hotel in Peshawar as "overlooking the famous Peshawar golf course and the historic Bala Hisar Fort".
'Suicide attack'
TV reports said the hotel had been subjected to a gun and bomb attack.
Investigators are trying to establish whether a device was planted or it was a suicide attack.
Police official Liaqat Ali said an unknown number of gunmen had run into the hotel just before "a big bomb went off", AP reports
The official added that he believed it had been a suicide attack.
Government forces launched an offensive earlier this year to crush a Taliban-led uprising in the Swat valley aimed at enforcing Sharia law.
Government forces launched an offensive earlier this year to crush a Taliban-led uprising in the Swat valley aimed at enforcing Sharia law.
Taliban leaders have promised to launch revenge attacks on major Pakistani cities and claimed a bombing in Lahore last month which left at least 28 people dead.
Taliban leaders have promised to launch revenge attacks on major Pakistani cities and claimed a bombing in Lahore last month which left at least 28 people dead.
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