Pakistan blast leaves 21 people dead

A suspected suicide attack in north-west Pakistan has killed at least 21 people and wounded more than 30 others. The bomb went off as people were queuing outside at a government office in the town of Mardan.

A faction of the Pakistani Taliban said it carried out the attack “I was in my house praying when I heard the explosion,” said a resident in the neighbourhood. What I saw on the scene was apocalyptic.

Bodies were lying everywhere…. Rescuers arrived immediately to collect the bodies and put them in the vehicles.” The attack is one of the deadliest since last December’s massacre of 150 pupils and teachers in Peshawar. The bomber in Mardan reportedly arrived on a motorbike and blew himself up when stopped by a security guard outside the Nadra building.

The office is usually crowded with people lining up to get ID cards.