Suicide blast in Peshawar kills seven, injures 42

The explosion took place outside a hotel in Qissa Khwani area of Peshawar.

PESHAWAR: A suicide blast outside a hotel in the Qissa Khwani area of Peshawar on Tuesday evening killed at least seven people and injured 42 others, Express News reported.

According to initial details, the blast took place outside Pak hotel in Kocha-e-Risaldar.

Express News correspondent Faizan Hussain said that injured have been shifted to Lady Reading Hospital for treatment. Among the injured are 35 men, five children and two women who were having dinner when the blast took place.

Most of the dead and injured hailed from Hangu, Parachinar or Kurram agency.

Emergency services and law enforcement personnel rushed to the site immediately after the blast. Officials have cordoned off the blast site.

Express News correspondent Jahangir Shahzad said that police officials had found body parts that allegedly belonged to a suspected suicide bomber.

Shafqat Malik, who leads the Bomb Disposal Unit, said it was a suicide blast.

Shahzad added that the bomber was carrying between four to five kilogramme of explosives and two kilogrammes of ball bearings.

Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan's spokesperson said that they were not associated with the blast and termed the explosion an attempt to sabotage the ongoing peace talks.

Separately, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf central information secretary Shireen Mazari termed the blast an attempt to sabotage the peace talks.

As PTI predicted, increasing terror attacks esp in KP as part of efforts to sabotage efforts 4 peace.Prov & fed govts shd raise security.

— Shireen Mazari (@ShireenMazari1) February 4, 2014