A suicide bombing in a Pakistani market close to the Afghan border killed 16 people Friday, officials said, a day after the U.S. released letters seized from Osama bin Laden's compound that criticized Pakistani militants for killing too many civilians, AP reported. Five of the dead in the blast in the Bajur tribal area were local members of the security forces, including one who had received an award for bravery in fighting militants, government administrator Abdul Haseeb said. The others were passers-by. At least 40 people were wounded. The suicide bomber detonated his explosives as he approached a security checkpoint near the market, said Haseeb. The attack took place as locals were headed to work or taking their children to school. The dead included a woman and several school children. The explosion damaged over a dozen shops, and rescue officials searched through the debris for anyone trapped inside. The ground outside the market was covered in blood and littered with the shoes of those hit by the attack. No group has claimed responsibility for the bombing, but the Pakistani Taliban or allied groups will be suspected.
