RAWALPINDI A suicide bomber hit a crowded bus-stand at the Pirwadhai intersection on Monday night, killing at least 11 people and injuring more than 25 others.

A woman and a child were among those killed and political workers, pedestrians and passengers were injured. Three of the injured were in critical condition.

According to sources, charred human limbs were taken to hospitals and a doctor said it was difficult to ascertain the number of casualties from the limbs which include a woman's head.

The blast damaged at least eight vehicles, several shops, a restaurant and nearby buildings.

According to witnesses, a man exploded himself after getting out of a vehicle parked near a crowed wagon and several other vehicles at around 9.15pm.

Malik Iftikhar, who was injured in the blast, told Dawn he was sitting in a restaurant when the explosion took place. There was chaos and panic all around. He fell on the ground and the restaurant was filled with smoke. The area was littered with human flesh and glass shards.

Rawalpindi Regional Police Officer Nasir Khan Durrani said the blast had not left any crater. 'It was an act of terrorism, apparently a suicide attack. The motive was to spread panic,' he said.

Mr Durrani said the entire country faced a terrorist threat. According to bomb disposal experts, seven to 10kgs of explosives had been used.

Police found a skull which was believed to be of the suicide bomber, aged between 15 and 20 years. It was the first terrorist attack targeting the general public in Rawalpindi since 2002.

Security sources said the bomber might have planned to sabotage the lawyers' long march, but struck a crowded place after failing to do so. The bodies and the injured were taken to the District Headquarters Hospital, Benazir Bhutto Hospital and the Military Hospital.