Pakistan blast at court leaves several dead in Mardan

Image copyright AFP

Image caption Soldiers cordoned off a street following the attack on a Christian district

A suicide bomber has attacked a court in the northern Pakistani city of Mardan, killing at least 11 people and injuring nearly 30, officials say.

The attacker threw a hand grenade before running into the court area and detonating a bomb, police told the BBC.

Lawyers, police officers and civilians are said to be among the dead.

Also on Friday, four suicide bombers targeted a Christian neighbourhood near Peshawar before being shot dead by security forces.

Both attacks took place in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province in north Pakistan.

No group has said it carried out the attack on the courthouse, but Taliban faction Jamaat-ul-Ahrar claimed the attack on the Christian district.

Militants have targeted lawyers in the past, including a bomb attack in Quetta last month that killed 18 lawyers. That attack was also claimed by Jamaat-ul-Ahrar.

Ijaz Khan, deputy inspector general of police for Mardan district, told reporters three lawyers and two police officers were among the dead at the courthouse.

The suicide bomber attempted to reach the court"s bar room, where several lawyers had congregated – but was shot by police before he could enter, Mr Khan said.

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Pakistan blast at court leaves several dead in Mardan
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