At least 42 people were killed and 72 injured after a suicide bomber attacked a crowd of people waiting for food aid in Pakistan's northwest tribal area on Saturday, Press TV reported.
The explosion occurred early on Saturday in the Bajaur region on the border with Afghanistan. Some 1,100-1,500 people had gathered to collect food rations to be distributed by the World Food Program office, Press TV reported.
Hospital sources have said the death toll is expected to increase further as many of those injured were in critical condition, the TV channel said.
Bajaur, which is widely seen by Pakistani authorities as a hotbed of Taliban forces, has been the scene of a military offensive by Pakistan's security forces against the militants since August, the TV channel said.
Security forces have cordoned off the blast scene and have begun rescue operations, the TV channel reported.
MOSCOW, December 25 (RIA Novosti)
