A suicide bomber blew himself up in northwest Pakistan Monday, killing at least eight people and injuring 21 in an attack the Taliban said was revenge for the hanging of an Islamist assassin last week.
The bomber attacked as lawyers and litigants were arriving at a court complex during the morning rush hour in the town of Shabqadar.
“A suicide bomber blew up himself inside the court complex. So far eight people have been killed and 21 others are injured,” Fayaz Khan, a senior police official in the area, told AFP.
Sohail Khalid, district police chief in Charsadda district where Shabqadar is located, confirmed the suicide attack and said two of the dead were policemen.
“We are investigating the nature of the blast. According to initial reports, a suicide bomber entered the complex and a policeman on duty tried to stop him but he blew himself up,” Khalid said.