A bomb hidden in a pickup truck exploded in a bustling town in Indian Held Kashmir on Monday, killing 15 people, including the suspected attacker and a 14-year-old boy, and injuring at least 100 others, police said. The blast uprooted trees, shattered two cars and damaged a dozen shops, a school and a post office near a security forces' camp in the town of Pulwama, Deputy Inspector General of Police Owes Ahmad said. At least eight injured people were in critical condition, Ahmad said. Eleven civilians, three paramilitary soldiers and the suspected attacker were killed. No one immediately claimed responsibility for the attack.Nearly 40 kilograms (88 pounds) of highly explosive RDX was hidden in the pickup truck, which had been carrying bricks and sand for construction of a perimeter wall around the area, about 50 kilometres south of Srinagar, Deputy Superintendent of Police Imtiyaz Ahmad told The Associated Press. "The attacker was riding the truck carrying the bomb and building material. The bomb detonated 500 metres short of the main buildings," Ahmad said.
An AK-47 rifle was recovered near the charred body of the unidentified attacker found in the truck, he said. Shortly after the explosion, angry residents came out into the streets protesting delays by officials in rescuing the wounded. Police fired tear gas and warning shots in the air to control the protesters.