Pakistan explosion kills, injures dozens

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan, Nov. 2 (UPI) -- At least 35 people died Monday when a suicide bomber detonated himself outside of a bank in a busy area of Rawalpindi, Pakistan, officials said.

Officials also reported a suicide bombing attempt in Lahore injured at least nine people, CNN said. The attempt occurred at a police checkpoint hours after the Rawalpindi attack, a police official said.

The Rawalpindi blast wounded more than 65 people, a district official said.

Rawalpindi is about 18 miles from the Pakistani capital of Islamabad and is home to the country's military headquarters. The deadly bombing occurred along Mall Road, home to hotels, government facilities and military installations.

The explosion blew out windows and damaged vehicles, witnesses said.

"One old man called to me for help," Iqbal Nisouwana, a driver who assisted the wounded, told CNN. "I tried to pick him up but he was too heavy."

Nisouwana said he saw five uniformed men among the victims.

Attacks in Pakistan have increased recently in response to a military offensive to drive out insurgents operating along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border, CNN said. Eleven military personnel, three civilians and nine militants died Oct. 10 when militants held dozens of hostages for 22 hours inside the army headquarters in Rawalpindi.

On Oct. 20, explosions at Islamabad's International Islamic University killed at least six people and wounded 29 others. Last Wednesday, a car bomb ripped a marketplace in Peshawar, killing more than 100 people and injuring at least 200 others.