Pakistan bomb blast kills eight

Eight people have been killed in a bomb explosion near a market in north-western Pakistan, a government official has said.

Local administrator Javed Khan said the blast on Friday in the town of Hangu in the Orakzai tribal area also injured 18 people.

Some of the wounded were in critical condition.

No group has claimed responsibility. Suspicion, though, has fallen on Taliban militants who regularly target security forces and civilians in the tribal region.

The area where the bombing took place is close to government and security offices.

The military has carried out numerous operations against the Pakistani Taliban in the tribal region, including in Orakzai. But the militants have proved persistent and continue to carry out attacks.

AP