World

Bomb Rips Through Islamabad

September 19, 2000 / 8:08 AM EDT / AP

A powerful bomb placed in a crate of grapes ripped through a crowded market, killing 16 people and wounding more than 80 in Pakistan's capital, police and hospital officials said.

The Tuesday morning blast, in the city's largest fruit and vegetable market, is the deadliest of 40 bombings that have rocked Pakistani cities this year.

Pakistan's military ruler Gen. Pervez Musharraf condemned the "dastardly act of terrorism," but did not place blame. Pakistan's government has blamed archrival India for many of the previous attacks, but India has denied any involvement.

Tuesday's explosion, the first in Islamabad this year, occurred while workers were unloading the crates from a truck, witnesses said. The blast triggered a stampede of workers and shoppers.

"I heard the explosion and saw fruit flying in the air," said Hasan Khan, a shop owner who was just 20 yards from the blast. "People started running and screaming. We pulled down the shutters on our shop and left."

No group immediately claimed responsibility, and police are trying to determine whether the explosion was motivated by a political feud, a business dispute or some other cause.

"It's an act of terrorism targeting innocent people," said Nasir Khan Durrani, senior superintendent of police.

Police detained seven truck drivers for interrogation, another police official said, requesting anonymity.

The truck arrived from Kurram Agency in Pakistan's northwestern tribal region bordering Afghanistan, police said.

Ambulances rushed to the scene to carry away the wounded, some of whom lost limbs, while the army and police cordoned off the scene.

"But most of the victims were sent to hospitals by private vans," said Tahir Ayub, another shopkeeper. "People of the area carried away most of the dead and helped the wounded."

The market is located on the city's outskirts in a relatively poor neighborhood. Many of the victims were Afghan refugees who work in the market.

Pakistan has been plagued by political violence for years.

Since Musharraf seized power last October, ousting an elected civilian government, overall political unrest has declined. But Pakistan has continued to see many bomb blasts, many of which have targeted markets, bus stations and other crowded public places in major cities.

The capital Islamabad has traditionally been calm even when other Pakistani cities, such as Karachi, were aflame. The city is home to many government bureaucrats, businessmen and diplomats, and does not have the huge, restless slums found in other parts of the country.