At least eight people have been killed and over a dozen injured after an alleged suicide bomber blew himself outside a court building in northwestern Pakistan on Monday.
According to police, the suicide attacker attempted to enter the court building in Shabqadar, but detonated his explosives when he was stopped at the gates by police.
“A suicide bomber was attempting to enter a district court as a security personnel, identified as Shabbir, police intercepted him outside the court’s premises which prompted him to blow himself up,” Charsadda District Police Officer, Sohail Khalid said.
Deputy commissioner Tahir Zaffar confirmed the death toll, adding that 13 people were injured in the attack and two police officers were killed in the attack.
RIP HC Mian Naseem Ullah, who according to police martyred while intercepting bomber in #Shabqadar .Salutes. pic.twitter.com/qKet9qwvzs
— Javed Aziz Khan (@JavedAzizKhan) March 7, 2016
Television footage run on Pakistani news media showed widespread damage and the charred remains of at least two vehicles at the scene.
Shabqada is located about 90 miles northwest of Islamabad.
Suicide bomber kills at least eight at Pakistan court https://t.co/BxSd5am9cT
— Reuters World (@ReutersWorld) March 7, 2016
Strongly condemn act of terror in Tehsil Kacheri Shabqadar, Charsadda.
Emergency declared at Charsadda all Hospitals & at LRH— Shahram Khan Tarakai (@ShahramKhanPTI) March 7, 2016