Pakistani volunteers search for victims in the rubble of a destroyed house of tribal elder Aastana Gul following a car bomb attack in Peshawar.—AFP Photo

PESHAWAR: At least four people were killed and several injured as a large explosion hit Peshawar on Friday, DawnNews reported.

Several people were trapped underneath the rubble of a building destroyed by the heavy explosion, which jolted the neighbourhood located on the Peshawar Ring Road.

The car bomb attack outside the residence of the tribal elder Aastana Gul in the Pishtakhara suburb of Peshawar damaged one house and a private office in the street, police said

Peshawar’s bomb disposal expert Hukam Khan said up to 40 kilograms of explosives were packed in a car and detonated remotely.

Bashir Bilour, senior minister Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, also said that at least 30 to 40 kilograms of explosive material had been used. Several pieces of a missile were also found at the location, added Bilour.

One of the injured had been freed from the debris and shifted to the hospital, while rescue workers and police personnel were busy helping recover the rest of the wounded.

Another police official, speaking on condition of anonymity, blamed a homegrown militant group Lashkar-e-Islam led by the warlord Mangal Bagh and based in the lawless tribal district of Khyber for the killings.