1 killed, 22 injured in market blast in NW Pakistan

Islamabad, June 16 (Xinhua-ANI): At least 11 people were killed and 22 others injured as a bomb hit a market area in Pakistan's northwest tribal region of Khyber Agency on Saturday morning, local media reported.

According to a report by local state-run TV channel PTV, the incident happened at about 11:00 a.m. local time when a bomb went off in the main market of Landi Kotal area of Khyber Agency, a militancy-hit tribal area that shares common border with Afghanistan on its western frontier.

There are no immediate reports about the target of the explosion, but some media reports said that a group of pro- governmnet peace militiamen were targeted in the blast.

The injured have been shifted to the nearby hospital. According to hospital sources, several among the injured are in critical condition.

Several shops and vehicles near the blast site were also damaged.

Security forces have cordoned off the area and an investigation has been made to determine the nature of blast.

No group has claimed responsibility for the blast yet. (Xinhua-ANI)