Peshawar, Nov 19 (IANS) At least 13 people were killed and several wounded Thursday in a powerful explosion close to the judicial complex in this main city of northwestern Pakistan.

The blast killed at least 13 people and injured several others Thursday, Dawn reported.

The explosion occurred near a court building, which was packed with lawyers.

This was the ninth terror attack in Peshawar, the capital of the North West Frontier Province, since early October.

Pakistan has been struck by a series of terror attacks since Oct 5, when the latest wave of violence was unleashed by the Taliban which is battling the army in the rugged terrain of South Waziristan. Peshawar itself has seen seven attacks in this period, killing over 225 people and injuring more than 400.

The city witnessed this year's worst terror attack Oct 28 when a massive explosion in a crowded market killed 117 people and injured over 200.

On Oct 9, 50 people were killed in a bomb explosion. Less than a week later Oct 15, one person died in a blast while the very next day 15 people were killed in a major explosion. While the Oct 23 blast left 15 people injured, five days later saw the horrific bombing in bustling Meena Bazar where 117 people died.

This month Nov 8, the Taliban struck again with a bombing that left 18 people dead and 39 wounded. On Nov 14, 10 people were killed and 20 injured in a suicide car bombing. Two days later Nov 16, four people were killed and 30 injured when a suicide bomber detonated his car packed with explosives near a police station in the outskirts of this city.