Car bomb kills 16 in Pakistan as British PM visits capital

A car bomb exploded as a convoy of paramilitary troops passed through the north-west Pakistani city of Peshawar, killing at least 16 people and wounding 42 others.

Most of the dead and wounded were civilians. The blast struck one vehicle in the convoy of paramilitary Frontier Corps troops, but the other passed by safely, said police official Shafiullah Khan. It is unclear whether it was a suicide bombing or the explosives in the vehicle were set off by remote control.

The blast damaged many vehicles and shops in the area, according to local TV footage. Frontier Corps vehicles rushed to the scene to help after the attack, as a police officer collected evidence from the crater caused by the bomb.

No one has claimed responsibility but suspicion will fall on the Pakistani Taliban. The group has been waging a bloody insurgency against the government for years that has killed thousands of security personnel and civilians.

Peshawar is located on the edge of Pakistan’s semi-autonomous tribal region, the main Taliban sanctuary in the country, and has been hit by scores of bombings over the years.

The attack in Peshawar came as British Prime Minister David Cameron was visiting the Pakistani capital, Islamabad. Mr Cameron told his Pakistani counterpart, Nawaz Sharif, that Britain would do all it can to help fight extremism, a battle that requires both a tough security response and measures to fight poverty and promote education.

“The enemies of Pakistan are enemies of Britain, and we will stand together and conduct this fight against extremism and terrorism together,” Mr Cameron said.