Bombing kills 9 in Orakzai: Officials

Official says not confirmed if attack was a suicide bomber hit or bomb being assembled went off accidentally.

PARACHINAR: A bomb exploded at a compound in Orakzai on Saturday, killing nine people and wounding 20, local government and intelligence officials said.   

The bombing in the compound, used by a local militia and containing residential units and an office, occurred near the village of Spin Tal. The military has been conducting operations against militant groups in the area for months.

"We are not sure if a suicide bomber hit the compound or if some militants were assembling a bomb and it accidentally went off," a local government official said, requesting anonymity.

The wounded were evacuated to a hospital in neighbouring Hangu district. A hospital official told Reuters that several of the wounded were in critical condition.

Several militant groups are active in the northwestern semi-autonomous tribal regions, near the border with Afghanistan, including the Pakistan Taliban, responsible for many of the bombings across the country in recent years.