Suicide Bomb Kills 18 People In Pakistan

Thousands of people filled the streets of Bannu in northwest Pakistan to attend 18 funerals, including six children, who died in a suicide attack on security installations.

The suicide bomber drove two vehicles containing explosives to the city's military base in an attack carried out by more than a dozen militants on Tuesday.

The military said several suicide explosions caused part of the outside wall of the complex to collapse, damaging the surrounding infrastructure.

Nearby mosques and residential buildings were also badly damaged.

As many as 13 civilians and five soldiers were killed in the attack, the military said.

Muhammad Nauman, a spokesman for the nearest hospital, said six children were among the dead and 36 others were injured.

Abdullah Khan, a 46-year-old Banu resident who runs a livestock business, said this was the largest funeral the city had ever seen.

Riaz Wazir, a shopkeeper who also attended the funeral, said the explosion also caused heavy damage and financial losses.

"The collapsed building was destroyed. Those that did not collapse were dangerous due to the explosion, any accidents could occur," he said.

The military said four suicide bombers were among the 16 militants who were also killed in the attack.

No party has yet claimed responsibility.

Pakistan is battling a surge in attacks by a branch of the Taliban Islamic movement, known as Pakistan's Tereek-e-Taliban, against police and military in areas near the Afghan border.

Videos from the scene showed people sorting out piles of bricks and cleaning up metal tape.

Nauman, a hospital spokesman, said a number of civilian casualties were trapped under collapsed buildings and walls.

Rescue services are looking for more victims under the rubble.

The evil ambitions of Pakistan's enemies will never be allowed to succeed, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said in a statement condemning the attack.