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5th LD Writethru: 26 killed as suicide blast hits gov't building in NW Pakistan

Xinhua, December 30, 2015 Adjust font size:

- At least 26 people were killed and 52 others injured in a suicide blast which hit a gov't building in Pakistan's northwestern province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Tuesday.

Provincial information minister, Mushtaq Ghani, told media that at least 26 people lost their lives and 52 others are injured in this suicide attack, while six others were in critical condition.

According to Deputy Inspector General of Police, Sayyad Khan, the incident took place when a suicide bomber exploded his jacket at the main gate of the National Database and Registration Authority (Nadra) at Dosehra Chowk area of Mardan, a district in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.

Khan said the attacker who is around 20--25 years old wanted to light up the bomb inside the building, but he exploded himself at the security when the guard proceed the body search.

When the blast happens,a number of people were queueing in front of service counters near the main gate for their National Identity Card.

The bomb disposal squad said that an estimated eight kilograms of explosives along with ball bearings was used in the attack.

Soon after the attack, security forces, police and rescue teams arrived the site and shifted the bodies and injured to the District Hospital and Mardan Medical complex.

A splinter group of Pakistani Taliban named "Jamaat--ul--Ahrar" claimed responsibility for the attack. Enditem