Pakistan court suicide blast kills 8; Taliban's Jamat-ul-Ahrar claims responsibility

At least eight people, including three police personnel, were reportedly killed when a suicide bomber blew himself up at the entrance of a court in Shabqadar area of Charsadda town in northwestern Pakistan Monday. Tehreek-i-Taliban's Jamaat-ul-Ahrar claimed responsibility for the attack. 

The explosion was reported to be huge as it burnt down two vehicles within the vicinity of the attack and 27 people were also injured. Shabqadar is located about 150 kilometres (90 miles) from national capital Islamabad, Reuters reported.

"The suicide bomber was trying to enter the judicial complex and he blew himself up when the police stopped him," police official Saeed Wazir said.

"We were sitting with a lawyer when a huge explosion took place in the sessions court... The army and other law-enforcement agencies have arrived and cordoned off the area. The injured are being shifted to nearby hospitals," local police official Gohar Khan said.

Jamaat-ul-Ahrar claimed to have carried out the attack in revenge against the hanging of Mumtaz Qadri for killing former Punjab Governor Salman Taseer in 2011, Dawn reported. The Islamist militant group claimed responsibility in an email sent to journalists.