“War is deceit,” Muhammad said. Along with the deliberate targeting of civilians, the jihadist trademark of spacing attacks to murder a maximum number of medics and first responders speaks volumes about the nature of the enemy. “Deadly blasts at market in Pakistani city of Peshawar,” from BBCNews, June 12:
At least 34 people have been killed and 90 wounded after two explosions ripped through a market in the north-western Pakistani city of Peshawar, police say.
The blasts occurred just after midnight in an area of the city that is home to political offices and army housing.
That has been a common thread in most attacks in recent weeks.
The number of attacks by militants in Pakistan has risen sharply since al-Qaeda leader Osama Bin Laden was killed in a US commando raid last month.
On Thursday, a bombing on the outskirts of Peshawar left four people dead.
An explosive device was planted in a pile of rubbish by the roadside in the Matani area, police said. The victims included a woman and a child.
A senior police official in Peshawar, Dost Mohammed, told the Associated Press that the first explosion on Sunday had been relatively small, and had drawn rescue workers, police and several journalists to the scene.
Minutes later, a large explosion rocked the area, causing the fatalities and most of the injuries. Eighteen people were said to be in a serious condition in hospital.
Jamal Khan, a 22-year-old student, was in his flat when the first blast happened. He was hit by flying debris by the second blast after rushing downstairs.
“The explosion was so huge I will never forget it all my life,” he told AP. “It was deafening, and then there was a cloud of dust and smoke. When the dust settled, I saw people crying for help and body parts scattered everywhere.”
Mr Mohammed said initial reports suggested the second blast was caused by explosives hidden in a vehicle and detonated by remote.
However, several police officials later said it might have been carried out by a suicide bomber on a motorbike.
The source of the first explosion is still unknown.
The AFP news agency said the apparent target was a supermarket. But the blasts also occurred close to a building containing the offices of several newspapers and across the road from those of the top political agent to Khyber, a volatile tribal region. There is also housing for soldiers nearby….