At least 22 people died after an explosion outside an imambara in Parachinar city, Pakistan, on Friday morning, Dawn reported. More than 57 people have been injured in the explosion. The Jamat-ul-Ahrar, a banned outfit, has claimed responsibility for the attack.

“We have 22 dead bodies here at the hospital and 57 injured, including women and children,” said Dr Moeen Beguma, who is a surgeon at a hospital where the injured are being treated. The toll was confirmed by the local police as well.

The blast occurred in the crowded Noor market area that is also surrounded by many shops. “There have been threats for at least two months,” Member of Parliament from Kurram, Sajid Hussain Turi, told Al Jazeera. “But I am sad to say the administration and the [special forces] soldiers have just been bothering people here...and yet this attack still happened.”

A string of bombings have taken place in Pakistan in the past few months, killing more than 100 people. On February 13, a suicide blast on Lahore’s Mall road killed 13 people. Banned militant outfit Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan had claimed the responsibility. At least 85 people were killed in a suicide attack on the Lal Shahbaz Qalandar Shrine in Sehwan on February 16, and the Islamic State group had claimed to be behind the carnage.