Four pro-government peace committee members killed in bomb blast in northwest Pakistan

Four pro-government peace committee members killed in bomb blast in northwest Pakistan

2011-06-09 22:00:01 GMT+7 (ICT)

PESHAWAR, PAKISTAN (BNO NEWS) -- A bomb blast on Thursday killed at least four members of the pro-government peace committee in northwest Pakistan, Ary news television reported.

An explosive device was placed inside a vehicle and later remotely detonated at the Matani Bazaar area in Khyber Pakhtoonkhwa province. In addition, five people were injured in the blast.

The vehicle was completely destroyed in the explosion and the wounded were transported to a nearby hospital. The bomb attack took place approximately 20 kilometers (12.42 miles) from the provincial capital Peshawar.

This was the second bomb blast in the Matani area in the last five days. On Sunday, at least seven people were killed, and 10 others were injured after a bomb attack in a bus terminal.

The explosives (about 5 kilograms) were planted in a pick up van. Among the fatal victims were 2 children and a woman. Witnesses said a man boarded the vehicle and left after leaving a package inside.

Last week, at least eight people were killed when a bomb exploded at a market in Peshawar. In December 2010, at least 45 people were killed and dozens more were injured when a female suicide bomber attacked a UN World Food Program distribution center in Khar, not far from the scene of the explosion.

In the past, Taliban militants had attacked pro-government people in Matani area, where they had formed committee to support the government action against the militants. Peshawar lies near Pakistan's tribal region on the Afghan border.

-- © BNO News All rights reserved 2011-06-09