A bomb attack outside a court in the north-western Pakistani city of Peshawar today killed at least 19 people and injured 51 others. The blast on the busy Khyber Road came during rush hour and is the latest in a series in the city in recent weeks. The head of the Peshawar city administration, Sahibzada Anees, told newsmen that a suicide bomber had carried out the latest attack. He said the bomber blew himself up when he was being body searched by a police guard at the gate of the court complex. Head of Lady Reading Hospital, Dr Sahib Gul, said three of the dead are policemen. A bomb disposal squad official said the bomber used about 10kg of explosives. Several vehicles were destroyed in the blast. Security officials have cordoned off the area and Khyber Road has been closed for traffic. The court building attacked is also close to the Pearl Continental Hotel, which was targeted by a truck bomb earlier this year. Security has been stepped up across Pakistan, but correspondents say the government still appears to be unable to stop the attacks.