Asia-Pacific

14 killed as suicide blast hits NW Pakistan

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2011-02-10 13:29

PESHAWAR, Pakistan - At least 14 people, mostly troops, were killed and many other injured on Thursday when a suicide bomber attacked a Pakistani army unit in the country's northwest, army sources said.

Witnesses said that the blast took place near a training area where the troops

were busy in training in Mardan, a main city some 60 kilometers northeast of Peshawar, the provincial capital of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

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The banned Pakistani Taliban, Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan, has claimed the responsibility for the suicide attack, sources said.

Unconfirmed sources said over 20 people were killed in the attack. State television reported that the blast took place inside the military center of the Punjab Regiment Center, a unit of Pakistani Army.

Local residents said they heard the blast and ambulances were seen heading to the blast site as emergency was declared in the city's military hospital.