ISLAMABAD: At least 24 people were killed and over 116 injured in a blast at Islamabad fruit market near Pir Wadhai on Wednesday morning.
According to police sources, 5 kilograms of explosives were planted in a fruit crate and the bomb was triggered using a time delay switch at 8:15 am. The blast left a 1.5-metre (five-foot) diameter crater at the site.
The explosion took place at a time when the daily auction was underway, killing several people on the spot. The deceased and injured were shifted to PIMS and other hospitals. Reports from the hospital state that several injured are in critical condition.
According to the acting IGP Islamabad there is regular patrolling in the market but it is not possible to search every truck.
The Fruit Market Association revealed that no department of the city administration was willing to take responsibility for managing the market. The association said a boundary around the market should be constructed otherwise such tragic incidents will continue to take place.
The Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) who extended their ceasefire with the government till April 10 condemned the bombing. The TTP's main spokesman Shahidullah Shahid said the group had nothing to do with the attack and urged the government to find those responsible.
This was the second terrorist attack in Islamabad this year after the district court attack on March 2.
Hours after the incident, the outlawed United Baloch Army (UBA) owned responsibility of today's bomb blast.
However, the Interior Ministry rejected the UBA’s claim, calling it utterly ‘ridiculous’.
The UBA spokesman said the blast was reaction of security force’s actions in Balochistan.