Pakistani officials say a bomb explosion at a crowded market in the country's northwest has killed at least nine people.

The blast occurred late Thursday in the town of Risalpur in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province.

At least 12 people were wounded when the bomb went off as people were shopping for the upcoming Muslim festival of Eid. Police say the bomb was planted on a bicycle.

Officials say the blast damaged several shops and a nearby hotel.

Militants have carried out a number of attacks in Pakistan's northwest despite operations by Pakistan's military in the tribal regions.

Last week, a suicide bomber killed 48 people at a mosque in the Khyber tribal agency.