By IRNA,
Islamabad : The death toll in Friday’s terrorist bomb attack in the northwestern Pakistani city of Peshawar has risen to 34, police and medical sources said on Saturday.
In addition, over 50 people were injured when an apparent car bomb detonated in a crowd of people busy in shopping for ‘Eid” festival.
The bomb exploded in the city’s famous and busy bazaar Qisa Khwani around 7:30 p.m., police chief Malik Naveed told reporters.
No group has claimed responsibility for the attack and officials say they do not rule out foreign hands in the devastating attack.
President Asif Zardari and Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani ordered inquiry to punish the responsible.
A total of 21 people were killed and over 100 injured when the bomb exploded but death toll climbed to 34 on Saturday, hospital sources said.
Local TV channels also reported 34 deaths.
Over 20 vehicles were also destroyed and the explosion was followed by a fire that engulfed scores of buildings in the narrow streets, making it difficult for rescue workers to move the injured and bodies trapped inside.
Police say that forensic evidences are being studied. The victims also included women and children.
The blast damaged scores of houses and shops and several people were injured by shreds of broken windowpanes.
According to sources, a van parked in a lane outside a hotel had exploded.
Meanwhile, Adviser on Interior Rehman Malik ordered an inquiry into the incident and asked the provincial government to submit a report of the probe.