20 killed in Pakistan car bombing

At least 20 people have been killed after a car bomb exploded at a crowded bazaar in a north-western Pakistani tribal region near the Afghan border.

More than 50 others were reportedly injured in the blast, which took place in the town of Landi Kotal in the Khyber tribal region near the main border crossing point of Torkham.

Government administrator Khalid Mumtaz said hundreds of people were in the bazaar when the parked car exploded.

TV footage showed the charred wreckage of the car used in the attack and local residents rushing to help take the victims to hospital. One of the wounded, 45-year-old Khan Mohammed, said he was sitting with a nephew in his shop when he saw a vehicle stopping in the street. Moments later he heard a massive blast.

He said from his hospital bed: “Something hit me in my shoulder and I fainted.”

Mr Mohammed added that two of his nephews who were outside the shop at the time of the explosion were killed and that he was worried for friends hurt in the attack.

Hospital official Farooq Shah said some of the wounded are in a critical condition.