A British woman was among eight people who died in a suspected suicide car bomb attack at a market in northern Pakistan yesterday.
The woman was married to a local man, lived in the area and had converted to Islam a month earlier, according to local media reports.
“We can confirm that a British national was killed in the attack in Swat Valley on February 22,” said a Foreign Office spokeswoman.
“Next of kin have been informed and we are providing consular assistance.”
Her husband was among at least 37 people injured in the attack in Mingora, the main town in the mountainous Swat Valley where government troops recently fought fierce battles to eject the Pakistani Taleban.
Local reports said the suicide bomber blew up a car packed with explosives at a road junction surrounded by shops and market stalls, timing the blast as members of Pakistan’s security forces drove past. Two soldiers were among the injured.
Television footage showed how the blast ripped out shop fronts and blew out the windows of cars on the street. Several cars were gutted by fire. Emergency workers found part of a watch and a mobile phone at the scene which they said they believe belonged to the bomber.
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