TANK, March 26: A suicide bomber struck a restaurant in the frontier region of Jandola on Thursday morning, killing 12 people, including a pregnant woman who was passing by. Twenty-two people were injured.

Maulvi Omar, a spokesman for the banned Tahreek Taliban Pakistan (TTP), claimed responsibility and said that a rival group led by Turkistan Bhittani was the target of the attack.

He accused the Turkistan group of supporting security forces against Baitullah Mehsud’s followers in the region.

Local people said a worker of the restaurant was frisking the bomber when he blew himself up.

Tank District Coordination Officer Berkatullah Marwat said that 10 people died on the spot and two succumbed to their injuries in hospitals. The restaurant was badly damaged.

Sources said some armed men of the Bhittani group were in restaurant at the time of the attack.

The government started supporting Turkistan Bhittani after his armed men clashed with Baitullah Mehsud’s followers in Jandola last year. At least 26 people were killed in the clash.

Turkistan and supporters of slain militant commander Abdullah Mehsud had united against Baitullah Mehsud.

Claiming responsibility for Thursday’s suicide attack, the TTP spokesman condemned the US government’s announcement of $5 million reward for information leading to Baitullah’s capture and said that the US and its allies were trying to create pretext to attack Waziristan.
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