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Blast Rocks District Court In Pakistan


A policeman looks for evidence after a suicide attack in the courthouse of Shabqadar, near Peshawar, on March 7.
A policeman looks for evidence after a suicide attack in the courthouse of Shabqadar, near Peshawar, on March 7.

A blast has rocked a district court building in northwestern Pakistan, causing many casualties.

RFE/RL's Radio Mashaal said the explosion occurred at the court in the Shabqadar district on March 7.

Police told Radio Mashaal that the bomber ignited his explosives after police stopped him from entering the court building.

Two police officers were among those killed.

TV footage showed widespread damage and the charred remains of at least two vehicles at the scene.

A group affiliated with the Pakistani Taliban and calling itself Jamat-ul-Ahrar claimed responsibility and said it was revenge for the hanging of Mumtaz Qadri who was executed last week for the 2011 killing of a provincial governor.

Shabqadar is located about 150 kilometers northwest of the capital Islamabad. It is adjacent to the Mohmand tribal area, which has seen several attacks in recent days.

With reporting by Reuters
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