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.
A huge explosion has killed at least five people and injured some 25 at a luxury hotel in the north-west Pakistani city of Peshawar.
Reports suggest gunmen stormed the premises of the five-star Pearl Continental just before the blast, and scenes of chaos are reported outside.
Reports suggest gunmen stormed the premises of the five-star Pearl Continental just before the blast, and scenes of chaos are reported outside.
Journalists at the scene say they have seen several injured foreigners.
Journalists at the scene say they have 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.
A policeman told me they had opened fire on two vehicles Fazle Mubeen, eyewitness
The floor under my feet shook Jawad Chaudhry, eyewitness
Peshawar, the main city in the country's north-west, is not far from the Swat valley, where the government offensive has been concentrated.
Peshawar, the main city in the country's north-west, is not far from the Swat valley, where the government offensive has been concentrated.
This was the most prominent hotel in Peshawar, the BBC's Chris Morris reports.
This was the most prominent hotel in Peshawar, the BBC's Chris Morris reports.
Pakistani Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani condemned the attack but it hardly comes as a surprise, our correspondent says.
Pakistani Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani condemned the attack but it hardly comes as a surprise, our correspondent says.
There was no immediate claim of responsibility for Tuesday night's attack.
'Two vehicles'
'Two vehicles'
One eyewitness, Fazle Mubeen, said two vehicles had been involved in the incident.
The blast left a large crater, according to an Associated Press journalist, and TV footage suggests part of the hotel was badly damaged.
Three men riding in a truck approached the main gate of the hotel and opened fire at security guards before driving inside, police official Liaqat Ali told AP, quoting witness accounts.
"They drove the vehicle inside the hotel gates and blew it up on reaching close to the hotel building," he added.
An eyewitness, Fazle Mubeen, said two vehicles had been involved in the incident.
"A policeman told me they had opened fire on two vehicles," he said.
"A policeman told me they had opened fire on two vehicles," he said.
"Two men were killed in the first car. Then the second vehicle entered the premises and the blast happened."
"Two men were killed in the first car. Then the second vehicle entered the premises and the blast happened."
Police official Liaqat Ali said an unknown number of gunmen had run into the hotel just before "a big bomb went off", AP reports
Ali Khan, a hotel waiter, said he had been working when the attack happened.
The official added that he believed it had been a suicide attack.
"I was in the Chinese restaurant when we heard firing and then a blast," he told Reuters news agency. "It was totally dark and people started shouting and running."
An injured man, Jawad Chaudhry, said he had been in his room on the ground floor when he heard gunshots, then a big bang.
"The floor under my feet shook," he said. "I thought the roof was falling on me. I ran out. I saw everybody running in panic. There was blood and pieces of glass everywhere."
Revenge vow
Pearl Continental's website describes its hotel in Peshawar as "overlooking the famous Peshawar golf course and the historic Bala Hisar Fort".
Correspondents say the hotel is popular with foreigners.
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.
Pearl Continental's website describes its hotel in Peshawar as "overlooking the famous Peshawar golf course and the historic Bala Hisar Fort".
A devastating suicide bomb attack on the Islamabad Marriott hotel last September killed at least 53 people and injured more than 266.
A devastating suicide bomb attack on the Islamabad Marriott hotel last September killed at least 53 people and injured more than 266.
Fidayeen-e-Islam, a little-known Pakistani militant group, told the BBC it had carried out the attack with the aim of stopping US interference in Pakistan.
Fidayeen-e-Islam, a little-known Pakistani militant group, told the BBC it had carried out the attack with the aim of stopping US interference in Pakistan.
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