Islamabad,IRNA – A car bomb attack Friday killed at least 26 people in northwest Pakistan, police in the region.

The attack in a busy marketplace in the city of Parachinar also injured nearly 36 more people, a police officer said.

Witnesses said that several shops and vehicles were also destroyed.

Police said that an explosive-packed vehicle was detonated outside a mosque in the bazaar.

Motives behind the attack were unclear as most of the casualties are civilians.

No group claimed responsibility for the attack.

Official sources said the attack may be part of the sectarian violence.

Some sources said it was a suicide attack.

The injured were transferred to a local hospital by the locals in their private vehicles. Security forces also arrived at the scene.