Police say explosion kills 4 near intelligence office in central Pakistan

Police: Bomb kills 4 in central Pakistan

MULTAN, Pakistan — Police say at least 4 people have been killed in a bomb blast near an intelligence office in the central Pakistani city of Multan.

Police official Karamat Malik says seven others also were wounded in the Tuesday blast.

The attack severely damaged several buildings, including one belonging to the country’s main spy agency, Inter-Services Intelligence.

Militant attacks have bedeviled Pakistan over the past two months as Islamist extremists retaliate against an anti-Taliban army offensive in the country’s northwest near the Afghan border.

This is the first time Multan has been hit during a surge of violence that began in October and has already killed more than 400 people in the U.S.-allied, nuclear-armed nation.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP’s earlier story is below.

MULTAN, Pakistan (AP) — Police say a bomb has exploded near an intelligence office in the central Pakistani city of Multan.

Police official Mohammad Qasim says casualties are feared in the Tuesday blast.

Militant attacks have bedeviled Pakistan over the past two months as Islamist extremists retaliate against an anti-Taliban army offensive in the country’s northwest near the Afghan border.

This is the first time Multan has been hit during a surge of violence that began in October and has already killed more than 400 people in the U.S.-allied, nuclear-armed nation.