Pakistan ? A suicide bomber blew himself up Saturday in a courthouse in southwestern Pakistan, killing 15 others, including a judge, in the deadliest of a series of attacks that have struck the country in recent weeks.

There is suspicion in Pakistan that pro-Taliban militants are targeting sensitive sites to undermine the country’s support of the United States, and an official in the region where Saturday’s attack took place hinted at Afghan involvement.

Saturday’s explosion wounded 24 people and left bloodied clothes and body parts scattered next to wrecked furniture and shattered glass in Quetta District Courts. It forced police – already on alert – to further tighten security nationwide.

The blast killed Judge Abdul Wahid, five lawyers and some of the relatives of prisoners who were on trial, said Jam Mohammed Yousaf, the top elected official the province. He could not give details about the prisoners’ identities or the cases being heard. The attacker died, along with 15 others.