Suicide blast at police vehicle leaves 7 dead, 25 injured in nouth west Pakistan

Seven people were killed and 25 others injured when a suicide blast hit a police vehicle near Pakistan's northwest Peshawar city on Friday afternoon, local media and police said. Superintendent Police, Faisal Kamran, said that a suicide bomber hit into an armored vehicle when it was passing by Bhatta Tal market area of Peshawar, the capital city of the country's northwest Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. He said that the policemen remained safe in the attack thanks to their bomb proof vehicle, however, a large number of residents got injured as the blast occurred in a crowded market. Most of the injured and killed people include fruit vendors, shop keepers, women and kids who were shopping in the area when blast happened, he said. Faisal confirmed that the blast left five people killed and over 25 injured, but local media reports later reported about a rising of death toll to seven as two among the wounded victims succumbed to injuries at hospital. Officials from Bomb disposal squad said that the bomber, who was on foot when he attacked the vehicle, was carrying an estimated 10 kg of explosive materials in his suicide vest. Ten of the injured people were shifted to Lady Reading hospital while 15 others were sent to Hayatabad Medical complex of the city by rescue teams. Four shops, 10 vehicles and several fruit carts were destroyed in the blast that happened at about 12:45 p.m. local time in Sarband, an area located about 10 to 15 km away from the Peshawar city. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack yet. Police cordoned off the area and kicked off search operation. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif condemned the blast and directed hospital administration to provide best possible medical treatment to the injured people.