A bomb in a pickup truck killed at least 26 people at a market in Landi Kotal on Saturday and wounded 65, security and hospital officials said, in one of the largest bombing death tolls in weeks. The target in the town of Landi Kotal appeared to be a tribal leader allied with the government against the militants group blamed for many of the suicide bombings across the country, security officials said.
Hospital officials said 65 people were wounded, most of them fruit and vegetable vendors. There was no immediate claim of responsibility. "The blast was so powerful, it was heard far and wide and caused damage to nearby buildings," said resident Sher Mohammad Shinwari. In a separate incident in Kohat, a home-made bomb exploded next to a police vehicle, killing eight people, including four policemen, and wounded at least six others, security officials said.