- Title: PAKISTAN: Car bomb death toll in Peshawar rises to 80, about 100 wounded
- Date: 21st October 2009
- Summary: PESHAWAR, PAKISTAN (OCTOBER 28, 2009) (REUTERS) SCORCHED BODY BEING BROUGHT TO HOSPITAL INJURED COVERED IN SHEET, ON STRETCHER INJURED MAN GETTING OUT OF RICKSHAW CRITICALLY-INJURED MAN BEING WHEELED OUT OF OPERATION THEATRE
- Embargoed: 5th November 2009 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Pakistan
- City:
- Country: Pakistan
- Topics: Crime / Law Enforcement
- Reuters ID: LVA9FFC2CQ2X8GAH2QSDGOI7OGAH
- Aspect Ratio:
- Story Text: A car bomb killed more than 80 people and wounded about 100 on Wednesday (October 28) in a crowded market in the Pakistani city of Peshawar, a doctor and officials said, the latest in a series of bloody militant attacks.
The blast, the deadliest in Pakistan this year, came hours after U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton arrived in Pakistan pledging a fresh start in ties with an increasingly embattled and skeptical partner in the struggle against Islamist militancy.
The Peshawar bomb went off in the busy Peepal Mandi market street in the old city, sparking a fire that engulfed several buildings.
A doctor in the city's main hospital told Reuters the number of fatalities was rising and that he saw more than 80 dead bodies arrive at the hospital.
Pakistan is on high alert amid fears of retaliatory strikes by Taliban militants, as the army attacks their strongholds in South Waziristan on the Afghan border.
The blast was caused by a car bomb, a senior city official said.
The offensive in South Waziristan came after a series of brazen attacks on the United Nations, army headquarters, police and general public, in which more than 150 people were killed.
There have been several bomb attacks since the offensive began.
Wednesday's blast caused serious damage in the neighbourhood of old wood and brick buildings, busy streets and narrow lanes.
The army launched the offensive on Oct. 17 and says it is making steady progress as soldiers push towards the al Qaeda-linked militants' bases in the region's rocky mountains and patchy forests.
Pakistani stock market investors have been unnerved by the violence in recent weeks and the main index was 0.69 percent lower at 9,251.84 points at 0955 GMT. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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