ID :
16458
Wed, 08/20/2008 - 11:13
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/16458
The shortlink copeid
At least 20 killed as suicide bomber targets Pak hospital
and about 50 injured when a suicide bomber blew himself up inside a hospital in a town in Pakistan's troubled northweston Tuesday.
Local officials in Dera Ismail Khan in North West Frontier Province told TV channels that the suicide bomber detonated his explosives near the emergency ward in thedistrict hospital in the city.
Police officials said they have found the head and partsof the body of the suicide bomber.
Some reports said the explosion took place as Shiite Muslims gathered to protest the death of a man from the community in a suspected sectarian attack. The man was earlierbrought to the emergency ward of the hospital.
A senior police official and other security personnel were among the injured. Officials said they feared the toll could rise as several of the injured were in a seriouscondition.
The attack sparked panic in the local market and traders shut down their shops. Police advised people to return homeand stay indoors.
The blast came amid an ongoing military offensive in the nearby Bajaur tribal region that has left hundreds dead andtriggered threats of retaliation from the local Taliban.
Local officials in Dera Ismail Khan in North West Frontier Province told TV channels that the suicide bomber detonated his explosives near the emergency ward in thedistrict hospital in the city.
Police officials said they have found the head and partsof the body of the suicide bomber.
Some reports said the explosion took place as Shiite Muslims gathered to protest the death of a man from the community in a suspected sectarian attack. The man was earlierbrought to the emergency ward of the hospital.
A senior police official and other security personnel were among the injured. Officials said they feared the toll could rise as several of the injured were in a seriouscondition.
The attack sparked panic in the local market and traders shut down their shops. Police advised people to return homeand stay indoors.
The blast came amid an ongoing military offensive in the nearby Bajaur tribal region that has left hundreds dead andtriggered threats of retaliation from the local Taliban.
