3 killed in blast near UNHCR office in northwest Pakistan

Islamabad, Sept 3: An explosives-laden car rammed a vehicle leaving the US Consulate in Peshawar city of northwest Pakistan today, killing at least three persons and injuring over a dozen others, including foreigners.

The incident occurred a short distance from the US Consulate and an office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees at Aabdara Road in Peshawar, the capital of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province.

Police said the vehicle leaving the US Consulate was rammed by the explosives-laden car. Three persons were killed and about 12 injured, including several foreigners, were taken to nearby hospitals, police and witnesses said.

Express News channel reported a foreigner was among the dead but there was no official word in this regard. Witnesses said some foreigners were in the car that was targeted. It could not immediately be ascertained if any US nationals were among the casualties. The powerful explosion was heard from several kilometres away.

Footage on television showed debris strewn over a large area. Witnesses said both cars involved in the incident were destroyed. The explosion created a large crater.

Several foreign organisations, including the UN, have offices in the area where the attack occurred. Security forces cordoned off the area after the blast. No group claimed responsibility for the attack though such incidents are usually blamed on the Pakistani Taliban.

PTI