Suicide bombing kills 56 in Pakistan, prisoners flee jail (Third Lead)

PESHAWAR - At least 56 people were killed and over 70 injured Friday when a suicide bomber triggered a huge explosion outside the civil administrator’s office in northwest Pakistan’s Mohmand tribal region. The blast damaged a jail, enabling prisoners to escape.

The terror attack, which took place in Yaka Ghund Friday morning, led to 35 prisoners managing to escape from the nearby jail, Online news agency reported.

The deafening blast took place when a large number of people had gathered at the administrator’s office during a wheel chair distribution ceremony.

Geo TV quoted Political Agent Amjad Ali Khan as saying that 56 people were killed and over 73 wounded in the incident.

Women and children were among the dead and the injured.

There were contradictory reports about whether the blast was carried out by a bomber on a motorcycle or in a car. While a media report said that the bomber rode a motorbike, another report said that the bomber drove down in a car.

A large crater of three to four feet was created at the site.

The office of the political agent is located in a crowded market and the magnitude of the blast also caused destruction of 30 to 40 shops. Several vehicles were destroyed.

The massive explosion caused considerable damage and rescuers scrambled to dig out those who were buried in the debris.

“The death toll might rise since severed limbs are scattered everywhere and rescue workers are collecting these,” said an official.

The injured have been shifted to Lady Reading Hospital in Peshawar and other hospitals.

Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani and Acting President Farooq H. Naek have condemned the incident.

A curfew was imposed in the area and the key Bajaur-Peshawar road was closed for traffic as rescue operations continued.

The Pakistani army is battling the heavily armed Taliban fighters in Waziristan’s mountainous terrain.