Tuesday, 4 February 2014

Eight killed, 40 injured in bomb blast in Peshawar

At least eight people were killed and more than 40 injured when a bomb exploded in a busy market in Pakistan's north-western city of Peshawar on Tuesday.

The blast took place at a restaurant in Peshawar's Qissa Khwani Bazar. The area has a significant Shia population.

Police officials said that that it was a suicide attack and claimed that they had found the head and legs of the attacker. "Eight people were killed in the attack and more than 40 injured. It was a suicide attack," said Muhammad Faisal Mukhtar, a senior police official.

The dead and injured were taken to the Lady Reading hospital. Jamil Shah, a media coordinator at the hospital said women and children were among the injured. He feared that the death toll could rise as many of the injured were in critical condition.

Peshawar has been a frequent target of militants linked to the Taliban and Al-Qaeda. The Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan has denied any involvement.

Few hours ahead of Tuesday's bombing prominent Shia leader Haji Sardar Ali was gunned down in the same locality of the city, sparking protest outside a hospital where his body was taken.

The bombing comes in the backdrop of peace talks between the government and Taliban negotiators. Violence has increased in Peshawar since Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif announced talks with the Taliban despite opposition from the public.


From TOI News

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