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At least four people including three children were injured in an explosion in Pakistan's Peshawar on Tuesday, the country's Geo News reported citing police and hospital officials.
Police said that the blast on Warsak Road was caused after explosives planted on the road burst. The injured were admitted to the Lady Reading Hospital where two children are said to be in critical condition. According to hospital's spokesperson, the injured children are aged between 7-10 years, Geo News reported. After the explosion, police and Rescue 1122 teams were sent to the site of the incident in the Babu Garhi area of Peshawar. Speaking to Geo News, Superintendent Police Arshad Khan said that the blast took place at around 9:10 am (local time). He said that the explosions that were used in the blast weighed 4 kilograms and were planted at the roadside. The senior police official said that the explosives were hidden in a cement block on the roadside. He further stated that police has started a search operation in the surrounding areas and added, "The element of extortion is also being considered." Speaking to reporters, he said, "It would be premature to say who was the target." Rescue officials said the glass of two vehicles and nearby buildings was shattered due to the explosion. Mayor Metropolitan Zubair Ali called the explosion near educational institutions "unfortunate" and noted that it was an attempt to disturb peace and order, Geo News reported. Earlier this November, five people were killed and more than 20 others were injured in a blast targeting police in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa's Dera Ismail Khan, Pakistan-based Dawn reported. According to data released by the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies (PICSS), Pakistan witnessed 34 per cent increase in anti-state violence in November, Dawn reported. According to PICSS, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa emerged as the most affected province, documenting 51 attacks, claiming the lives of 54 people and injuring 81 others, according to Dawn report. Meanwhile, Balochistan reported nine attacks, claiming the lives of 18 people, including 15 security forces personnel and three civilians. (ANI)
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