Truck Bomb Explodes At Pakistan Market, Killing 11

Truck bomb explodes at Pakistan market, killing 11 < br />

2012-07-27 05:26:58 GMT+7 (ICT)

PESHAWAR, PAKISTAN (BNO NEWS) -- A truck packed with explosives detonated at a market in northwestern Pakistan on Thursday, killing at least eleven people and injuring more than two dozen others, police said. No group immediately claimed responsibility.

The attack took place at the Pashat market located in the Salarzai area of Bajaur Agency, one of the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA). The explosives were reportedly planted inside a parked pick-up truck near the crowded market, destroying a number of vehicles and six shops.

Police said at least eleven people, including two young children, were killed while 26 others were injured. Officials said the death toll could still rise as one of those injured was said to be in a critical condition. All the victims are believed to have been civilians.

No group immediately claimed responsibility for the attack, although the Pakistani Taliban has historically been very active in the region. The group's spokesman, Ehsanullah Ehsan, condemned the blast and denied being responsible. However, the Pakistani Taliban have sometimes denied responsibility when it involves a large number of civilian casualties.

Pakistani media said the Pashat market is owned by Nawaz, the former Awami National Party (ANP) MNA and current leader of the Pakistan Muslim League, although it was not immediately known if he was the target of the attack. Nawaz was not among the victims in Thursday's attack.

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