A powerful bomb ripped through a bustling fruit and vegetable market here on Wednesday, killing at least 23 people and injuring over 100 others, in one of the deadliest attacks in the Pakistani capital.
The blast occurred in the fruit market in Sector I-11 on the outskirts of the capital, bordering the garrison city of Rawalpindi. The attack took place even as the Government and the Taliban are engaged in talks to end the cycle of violence that has plagued the country over the past decade, claiming over 40,000 lives.
“We have 20 bodies and three more bodies are in Holy Family Hospital. We currently have 54 injured out of which some are in very critical condition,” Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) Vice Chancellor Professor Javed Akram told PTI. A 5 kg-bomb was used and was planted in a crate of guavas that was brought to the market.
The bomb went off early in the morning when people had gathered to take part in the daily auction of the fruits, Assistant Inspector General of Islamabad Police Sultan Azam Taimuri said.
Over 100 people were injured in the attack and were rushed to PIMS and the Holy Family hospital in Rawalpindi, authorities said. Emergency was declared at both hospitals shortly after the explosion.
The blast was claimed by Balochistan United Army, a lesser-known separatist outfit operating in the restive southwest province. The group said the attack was in retaliation to the military operation being carried out in Balochistan where over 30 militants were killed this week. The group had also claimed the responsibility for Tuesday’s blast in a train.
However, the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) spokesperson Shahidullah Shahid issued a statement condemning the blast and regretting the death of civilians in the attack. He described such attacks, in which innocent civilians are targeted, as “un-Islamic”. The Taliban has announced a ceasefire till April 10. Security officials and the police cordoned off the area and a Bomb Disposal Squad combed the locality for explosives.
“Around 1,500-2,000 people were at the market at the time of the blast,” Inspector General of Police, Islamabad, Khalid Khattak told reporters at the blast site.