Peshawar: At least 34 people were killed and 94 others injured in two back to back blasts in Peshawar, the northwest city of Pakistan, on late Saturday night, police officials said.
According to The News Tribe correspondent in Peshawar, the first blast was occurred in a Lala Hotel in Khyber Super Market, Peshawar. Two or three people were injured in the blast. Fire erupted in the hotel after the blast.
The second blast which was stated to be a suicide blast was occurred three to four minutes after the first blast when rescue teams and media persons, including cameramen and reporters, reached the spot and were performing their duties.
The first blast was stated to be a cylinder blast but after the second blast police and bomb disposal squad have started interrogating the intensity and cause of the blast.
Later, bomb disposal squad said that explosive material was planted in a motorcycle parked near the Khyber Super Market.
Police officials said that according to initial information 10 to 15 kilogram explosive material was used in the second blast but it was premature to say anything whether the blast was planted or it was an improvised explosive devise (IED) blast.
According to a provincial minister, Liaquat Shabab, initial information given by police and hospital administration, more than 30 people have lost their lives in the incident while scores others sustained injuries.
The minister strongly condemned the incident and condoled with the affected families. He said Khyber Super Market area was a residential area and there were many hostels and offices of several media organization located in the area.
Meanwhile, Provincial Information Minister, Mian Iftikhar Hussain, has confirmed the death of 34 people and 94 injuries. He claimed that Taliban were involved in anti-Islam and anti-democratic activities.
The injured, including rescue workers, security personnel and local media persons, were shifted to nearby hospitals for treatment. Most of the injured were taken to Lady Reading Hospital, Peshawar for treatment. Many injured were stated to be in serious condition.
According to a police official Aijaz Haroon there were eight police officials including the injured have been treated in different hospitals and many others went missing in the incident. But all the police personnel were stated stable.
Medical emergency has been imposed in the hospitals to save further loss. The death toll may rise as many of the injured were in serious condition.
Security officials have cordoned off the area and started investigation into the incident.
Security officials were trying to keep the locals away from the spot to save the people from any untoward incident.
Rescue teams were facing difficulties in shifting the victims to the hospitals because the blasts damaged electricity transformer, causing darkness in the area.
According to eye witnesses, several parts of a motorcycle were found near the place of the blast that shows that the second blast might have been a planted bomb but it is yet to be confirmed.
President and Prime Minister of Pakistan also condemned the blast and expressed their condolence with the affected families.
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