Ten people were killed and dozens were injured on Tuesday following a massive explosion in a crowded market in northwest Pakistan, in a new attack the region is witnessing.
According to Reuters, police and rescue officials said that the explosion, which occurred in the crowded “Norang” market, caused panic in the streets, as people rushed to help the wounded and ambulances flocked to the site. Photos from the explosion site showed damaged storefronts and a smashed vehicle.
This attack comes after a car bomb explosion followed by an ambush targeting a police station in the neighboring Bannu district on Saturday, killing 15 policemen.
Pakistan has accused militants based in Afghanistan of responsibility for the weekend attack and lodged a strong protest with Kabul. The Taliban government in Afghanistan said on Tuesday that these accusations are “baseless”.
Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said in a statement, “The Islamic Emirate reiterates its position that Afghan territory will not be used against any country, and no one will be allowed to carry out any activities that would harm the security and stability of the region.”
Reuters quoted police official Sajjad Khan as saying that 10 people were killed in today’s explosion at the market, eight of them civilians and two police officers, and that the explosion was carried out using an improvised explosive device.
