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Pakistan suicide blast 'kills 30' | |
(about 1 hour later) | |
At least 30 people have been killed in a suicide attack in north-western Pakistan, according to police. | At least 30 people have been killed in a suicide attack in north-western Pakistan, according to police. |
Some reports said that the bomber blew himself up at a mosque close to former Interior Minister Aftab Khan Sherpao's house near the city of Peshawar. | Some reports said that the bomber blew himself up at a mosque close to former Interior Minister Aftab Khan Sherpao's house near the city of Peshawar. |
Police officer Khalid Khan told the Associated Press news agency that Mr Sherpao and his son were "safe". | Police officer Khalid Khan told the Associated Press news agency that Mr Sherpao and his son were "safe". |
The explosion happened as people observed the Eid festival, a public holiday in Pakistan. | The explosion happened as people observed the Eid festival, a public holiday in Pakistan. |
Dozens of people who were wounded in the explosion have been taken to a local hospital. | |
A senior police official said the bomber blew himself up inside the mosque while 1,000 people offered Eid prayers. | |
He said the attacker was in the second row behind outgoing interior minister Mr Sherpao. | |
Surge of violence | Surge of violence |
It was the second apparent attack on Mr Sherpao - a close ally of President Pervez Musharraf - in eight months. He is running as a candidate for parliament in general elections next month. | It was the second apparent attack on Mr Sherpao - a close ally of President Pervez Musharraf - in eight months. He is running as a candidate for parliament in general elections next month. |
We were saying prayers when this huge explosion occurred. It almost blew out our ear drums Shaukat Ali, eyewitness | We were saying prayers when this huge explosion occurred. It almost blew out our ear drums Shaukat Ali, eyewitness |
Police official Mohammad Sharif Virk was quoted by AFP news agency as saying that the bomber was "among the people, offering Eid prayers". | Police official Mohammad Sharif Virk was quoted by AFP news agency as saying that the bomber was "among the people, offering Eid prayers". |
"We were saying prayers when this huge explosion occurred. It almost blew out our ear drums," said another witness, 26-year-old Shaukat Ali. | |
The BBC's Barbara Plett in Islamabad says there has been a wave of suicide bombings in the past six months, most in the north west of the country and most aimed at army and government targets. | |
More than 600 people have been killed, including around 200 soldiers. | |
The attacks are blamed on pro-Taleban militants retaliating for military operations against them in the border areas near Afghanistan. | |
There has been a surge of violence in north-western Pakistan since troops ousted armed militants from the radical Red Mosque in Islamabad in July. | There has been a surge of violence in north-western Pakistan since troops ousted armed militants from the radical Red Mosque in Islamabad in July. |
Troops have driven the militants from a series of small towns and villages where they had tried to implement strict Islamic law. | Troops have driven the militants from a series of small towns and villages where they had tried to implement strict Islamic law. |
The army says it has killed nearly 300 pro-Taleban militants in the restive Swat region in North West Frontier Province. | The army says it has killed nearly 300 pro-Taleban militants in the restive Swat region in North West Frontier Province. |
The fighting in Swat is the first serious insurgent threat from pro-Taleban forces in what is considered a settled area of Pakistan. | The fighting in Swat is the first serious insurgent threat from pro-Taleban forces in what is considered a settled area of Pakistan. |
Did you witness the attack or were you in the area? Use the form below to send us your accounts, some of which may be published. | Did you witness the attack or were you in the area? Use the form below to send us your accounts, some of which may be published. |
You can send pictures and video to: yourpics@bbc.co.uk or to send via mobile please dial +44 (0)7725 100 100. | You can send pictures and video to: yourpics@bbc.co.uk or to send via mobile please dial +44 (0)7725 100 100. |
If you have a large file you can upload here. | If you have a large file you can upload here. |
Do not endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws. | Do not endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws. |
Click here for terms and conditions on sending photos and video | Click here for terms and conditions on sending photos and video |