Rawalpindi death toll rises to 20

At least 20 people were killed today in an explosion in the Pakistani city of Rawalpindi, a rescue official said.

Nayyar Ali Babar said he saw at least 20 bodies and “a couple dozen” wounded people.

The blast occurred near a bank and a hotel not far from the army’s main headquarters.

Suspected militants have struck repeatedly in recent weeks, killing about 250 people in apparent retaliation for an army offensive in a Taliban stronghold in the north west.