Deadly blast near US consulate in Peshawar

An explosion near the US consulate in Pakistan’s northwestern city of Peshawar has killed at least three people, police say.

A policeman told the AP news agency that an explosive-filled car struck a US government vehicle after it left the consulate. Seventeen more people were injured.

Monday’s blast took place near residential quarters for the US consulate and foreign aid organisations, senior police officer Tahir Ayub told the AFP news agency.

A senior security official confirmed two deaths, while witnesses said two vehicles were damaged in the explosion. Witnesses said a four-wheel-drive vehicle was completely destroyed in the blast.

Some of the wounded are foreign nationals, police officer Pervez Khan told the AP. The identities of those killed were unclear.

US officials could not immediately be reached for comment.

Al Jazeera’s Imtiaz Tyab, reporting from Islamabad, said: “What we are hearing is that three are people dead, and a number of people are wounded after a vehicle slammed into a US consulate vehicle.”

According to our correspondent, there is “some suggestion that those who are injured are foreign”, but there are “conflicting reports as to who exactly was targeted in this attack”.

The area hosts several foreign organisations, including the UN.

Peshawar is situated near tribal areas bordering Afghanistan, where Taliban and al-Qaeda operate.

Source: Al Jazeera and agencies