43 killed, over 100 injured in Peshawar blast

As many as 43 people were killed and over 100 wounded in Pakistan's Peshawar city Sunday when a bomb blast occurred in a market, near a police station, reported Radio Pakistan.

No terror group immediately claimed responsibility for the blast incident.

The deceased included six children and two women besides 18 members of a family, who were there to attend a wedding ceremony, hospital authorities said.

Pakistan President Mamnoon Hussain and Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif strongly condemned the blast.

The deadly explosion, which took place at about 10.50 a.m. at Qissa Khawani Bazar, one of the busiest markets in Peshawar, was planted inside a car parked about 20 metres away from a police station in the market.

As much as 200 - 225 kg of explosives were used in the blast, said Additional Inspector General Bomb Dispotal Squad Shafqat Malik, adding that time device was used for the blast.

Meanwhile, a fire which broke out after the blast engulfed a number of shops. The blaze also destroyed three plazas. The blast also destroyed several vehicles -- rickshaws and motorbikes.

Sunday's blast was the third serious terrorist attack in the city over the past week. A twin suicide bomb attack Sep 22 on a Christian church in Peshawar, claimed more than 80 lives, triggering a nationwide protest.

A bus carrying local government employees was blown up by a bomb planted inside it Friday, leaving at least 19 people dead.