5 killed, 50 hurt in suicide attack outside Peshawar court

A suicide bomber blew himself up outside a crowded court complex in the Pakistani city of Peshawar, killing five people and wounding 50 in the latest in a wave of terrorist attacks across Pakistan.

The attacker, who arrived at the court complex in a rickshaw, he tried to flee when he was questioned by police, said North
West Frontier Province Chief Minister Bashir Bilour.

He blew himself up when police shot him, the minister told reporters at the scene of the explosion. Five people died in the blast, said Bilour.

Nearly 50 injured were taken to nearby hospitals. The doctors said six of them were in serious condition. Several police officers, lawyers and bystanders were wounded. Bilour said it would have been lower if
the bomber had succeeded in entering the sessions court complex in jail Road, a high security area.

Asked about allegations that the India-US were behind these attacks, he said, "no American or RAW agents are
carrying out these blasts. "

The complex of court sessions is within walking distance of a shelter for provincial legislators, Peshawar Museum,
Provincial Department of Interior, the Central Prison and the Governor's House.

The explosion caused a fire that destroyed the auto-rickshaw used by the attacker and several cars. An official of the bomb disposal squad said investigators had found the head and other parts of the attacker's body and parts of the suicide jacket.

Police cordoned off the area and key roads closed as ambulances for the wounded to nearby hospitals. An emergency
was declared in the hospitals.

Peshawar has borne the brunt of a wave of terrorist attacks across Pakistan. In recent weeks, car bombs and suicide bombers have targeted public places, checkpoints, police and security services in Peshawar, including the provincial headquarters of the Inter-Services Intelligence agency. Hundreds have died in those attacks.

Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani strongly condemned the blast. He ordered authorities to conduct an investigation into the
incident.