Deadly explosion rips through crowded Pakistan market

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http://www.latimes.com/world/worldnow/la-fg-wn-pakistan-market-bombing-20140408,0,581807.story



Volunteers collect the remains of victims of a powerful bomb in Islamabad's fruit and vegetable market.

Deadly explosion rips through crowded Pakistan market
By Aoun Sahi
April 9, 2014, 12:19 a.m.

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan -- At least 19 people were killed and about 50 injured when a high-intensity explosion ripped through Islamabad's crowded fruit and vegetable market Wednesday, police said.

A witness said the explosion happened at about 8:10 a.m. during the peak business hour.

Muhammad Ismail, a broker in the market estimated that he was about 220 yards away from the blast. "There were at least 200 people around the point where bomb ripped off. I heard a huge blast, which was followed by huge smoke. I saw cut limbs of people flying in front of my eye. There was blood and cries," he said. "We rushed to the point to help people. Most of them had lost their limbs. It was horrible. A friend of mine died right in front of eyes."

Fruit and vegetable traders blamed shoddy security for the blast. “There is not a single entry or exit point in the market. There are no police officials deployed at the market. It is an open-for-all place,” said trader Abdullah Khan.