8 killed in bomb blast at Peshawar seminary

Peshawar - Initial investigations suggest the bomb went off minutes after someone left a bag at the madrassa.

A powerful bomb blast ripped through an Islamic seminary on the outskirts of the northwest Pakistani city of Peshawar on Tuesday morning, killing at least eight students and wounding 136 others, police and a hospital spokesman said.

The bombing happened as a prominent religious scholar during a special class was delivering a lecture about the teachings of Islam at the main hall of the Jamia Zubairia madrassa, said police officer Waqar Azim. He said initial investigations suggest the bomb went off minutes after someone left a bag at the madrassa.

TV footage showed the damaged main hall of the seminary, where the bombing took place. The hall was littered with broken glass and its carpet was stained with blood. Police said at least 5kg of explosives were used in the attack.

Several of the wounded students were in critical condition, and hospital authorities feared the death toll could climb further.

• Pakistan