Toll in Peshawar car bombing climbs to 107

With the recovery of 15 more bodies from the rubble of several buildings that collapsed due to a massive car bombing in a Peshawar market, the toll in one of the worst terror attacks in Pakistan rose to 107 today.

Officials had last night said that 92 people had died in the devastating attack in the 'Peepal Mandi' commercial hub in Peshawar, the NWFP capital. Fifteen more bodies were pulled out of the debris by rescue workers overnight, taking the toll to 107.

The workers were still engaged in removing rubble from the site of the blast. A 45-member Urban Search and Rescue team sent from Islamabad last night used sophisticated equipment like sound and heat detectors during an 11-hour search for survivors.

An official of the team told reporters this morning that it had completed its search and no more people were believed to be trapped under the rubble. The car bomb packed with 150 kg of explosives went off at the entrance of 'Meena Bazar', a market meant exclusively for women. The blast triggered a massive fire that was brought under control after several hours.

Many of the dead and injured were women and children. Over 200 people were also injured in the attack. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack. Both Taliban and al-Qaeda have reportedly said they were not involved in the bombing.

The News daily quoted an al-Qaeda statement as saying that the group is not involved in killing innocent people. The report quoted al-Qaeda sources as saying that elements who want to defame 'jehad' were behind the blast.

The report further said that an e-mail sent by the banned Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan to the media condemned the blast and denied the group's involvement in the incident. Officials said several bodies are yet to be identified as they were charred and mutilated. Several residents of the Peepal Mandi area were reported missing.

The blast destroyed 10 buildings and 60 shops. Local residents said other buildings were in danger of collapsing as their structure and foundations had been badly damaged. Traders' associations in Peshawar have called for three days of mourning to condemn the attack, one of the worst witnessed in the city which is no stranger to suicide attacks and bombings.