This article is from the source 'washpo' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/at-least-18-killed-in-blast-at-pakistan-market/2014/04/09/ce70bb78-bfab-11e3-bcec-b71ee10e9bc3_story.html?wprss=rss_world

The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 2 Version 3
At least 22 killed in blast at Pakistan market At least 22 killed in blast at Pakistan market
(about 3 hours later)
ISLAMABAD — At least 22 people were killed and over 80 injured in an early morning blast here on Wednesday in a fruits and vegetables market on the outskirts of the city, police and doctors said. ISLAMABAD, Pakistan — At least 22 people were killed and more than 80 injured in an early morning blast here Wednesday in a fruit and vegetable market on the outskirts of the city, police and doctors said.
The blast was said to be high-intensity explosion and Pakistan’s capital city police said that around 5 kilograms of explosives were planted in crates of guava fruit that were brought from different cities to be sold at the market. The detonation left a foot deep crater and damaged nearby stalls and some vehicles. The blast was said to be high-intensity explosion, and Pakistan’s capital city police said that around 11 pounds of explosives were planted in crates of guava fruit that were brought from different cities to be sold at the market. The detonation left a foot-deep crater and damaged nearby stalls and some vehicles.
The doctors at Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences put the death toll at 20 and they said that 80 injured people, some of them in critical condition, had been taken to hospitals in Islamabad and in nearby Rawalpindi. Doctors at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences said that 80 injured people, some of them in critical condition, were taken to hospitals in Islamabad and in nearby Rawalpindi.
Among those killed and injured were fruit sellers, early morning shoppers and laborers.Among those killed and injured were fruit sellers, early morning shoppers and laborers.
“I had gone to the market for buying fruits when the explosion took place. It was huge and I fell on the ground by its intensity. When I regained senses I saw dead bodies, blood on ground, injured people crying for help and others running here and there in panic,” said an eyewitness, Murad Khan, 40, who received minor bruises in the blast. “I had gone to the market for buying fruits when the explosion took place,” said an eyewitness, Murad Khan, 40, who received minor bruises in the blast. He said the explosion knocked him to the ground.
The explosion occurred at a time when the current Pakistani government led by prime minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif is engaged in peace talks with the Pakistan Taliban know as Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) or Taliban Movement for Pakistan. “When I regained my senses, I saw dead bodies, blood on ground, injured people crying for help and others running here and there in panic,” Khan said.
The talks are aimed at bringing peace to the tribal regions bordering Afghanistan, including the restive North Waziristan, which is said to be the hub of al-Qaeda and Taliban fighters. The explosion occurred at a time when the Pakistani government led by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif is engaged in peace talks with the Pakistani Taliban.
“At the time of the blast around 2,000 people were present in the market. It’s an act of terror, nobody has taken the responsibility so far but our investigations are on,” Khalid Khattak, Islamabad police chief. The talks are aimed at bringing peace to the tribal regions bordering Afghanistan, including restive North Waziristan, which is said to be the hub of al-Qaeda and Taliban fighters.
In as statement, TTP spokesman Shahidullah Shahid condemned the blast and said his organization had nothing to do with it. “At the time of the blast, around 2,000 people were present in the market,” said Khalid Khattak, Islamabad’s police chief. “It’s an act of terror.” He said nobody has yet claimed responsibility for the blast and that an investigation is underway.
Pakistan’s Information Minister Pervaiz Rashid promised, “We will root out the terrorism. The government is trying to isolate those people who carry out such attacks. In a statement, Pakistani Taliban spokesman Shahidullah Shahid condemned the blast and said his organization had nothing to do with it.
“For the first time, the elements that are always blamed for terrorist attacks have condemned this act of terror and distanced themselves from it,” he said. Pakistani Information Minister Pervaiz Rashid promised: “We will root out the terrorism. The government is trying to isolate those people who carry out such attacks.”
He added, “For the first time, the elements that are always blamed for terrorist attacks have condemned this act of terror and distanced themselves from it.”
Retired Brig. Gen. Mahmood Shah, a Pakistani security and defense analyst and former security chief of the tribal regions, called the blast “a serious development” that would have a “negative impact on talks between the government and the Taliban.”
He said in an interview that “some intelligence reports suggested that the Taliban could carry out such attacks, which they would disown later, to build pressure on the government.” If the market attack is part of such a plan, “then the damage would be very serious,” he said.
“Also, more such attacks, if they continue, could derail the whole process of negotiations,” Shah said.