Suicide attack in northwest Pakistan kills 8

Islamabad, March 13: Officials say at least eight people have been killed in a suicide car bombing in northwest Pakistan.

Army spokesman Maj. Mushtaq Khan says the attacker detonated the car bomb near a security checkpoint in the Swat district.

Police official Mohammed Anfal says nearly two dozen people were also wounded in Saturday’s attack.

The Pakistani military launched a major offensive in Swat early last year after peace deals with local Taliban collapsed.

The military took back the Swat Valley by mid-2009, but sporadic violence has continued.