30 perish, 100 hurt in Peshawar explosion

PESHAWAR: At least thirty people have been killed and over 100 injured in a bomb explosion in Karachi Bazaar, part of Khyber market nearing NWFP assembly here in Peshawar on Friday morning, police sources said. According to hospital sources, 30 people have lost their lives while scores others have been injured, meanwhile, emergency has been imposed in all city hospitals. Mian Muhammad Iftikhar, provincial information minister, has confirmed the causality has mounted to 30 people while 100 others are hurt and 15 of them said to be critical in condition. The blast hit a shopping area close to the city's main Khyber Bazaar and ambulances rushed to the scene, said local police official Asghar Hussain. "At least 30 people were killed and around 100 wounded in the bomb blast," local administration chief Sahibzada Mohammad Anis told reporters. "We have declared an emergency in the hospitals," he added. "The bomb was planted in a car parked in the market," said Mian Iftikhar Hussain. It was not immediately clear if it was a remote-controlled device or a suicide attack. "We are investigating whether it was a suicide blast or the device was planted in the vehicle," the minister told reporters. Many vehicle nearby parked have been shattered completely while as many as 100 more injured people have been rushed to Lady Reading and various other hospitals for medical attainment, sources added. The dead and injured people included children, women, ladies, young and elderly people, hospital sources confirmed. The blast occurred at some time after 12:00 noon while, more causality might be reported, official sources feared. Police and army soldiers have cordoned off the entire area, meanwhile, the rescue efforts are underway, witnesses said. Also, the passenger on a bus passing near bazaar also came under attack whereas the DCO Peshawar has confirmed 30 people have been killed in explosion. Apparently the bomb was planted in a white car but some witnesses termed the explosion as suicide attack, however, no official version on the blast has appeared as yet, sources maintained.