Two killed in Pakistan bus terminal blast
An explosion near a bus terminal in Pakistan’s Swat Valley killed two people and wounded at least 35 today, officials said.
The explosion went off around noon in Mingora, the main town in the one-time tourist haven that was overrun by the Taliban in 2007. The exact nature of the blast is unclear, and police are investigating whether a suicide bomber was involved.
The area was crowded so the death toll could rise significantly, said Ibrahim Khan, a senior police official. At least two people were dead so far, while 35 were wounded, he said.
The attack comes as a sign that Islamist militants remain active in the north west region despite a massive army operation against them.
The Pakistan military launched its biggest operation against the Taliban in Swat in 2009 after a failed attempt at a peace deal that included pledges to impose Islamic law in the area.
The operation forced two million people to flee, but after a few months, the army said it had taken control and many of the refugees returned home.
