8th Nov 2009, Islamabad, PAKISTAN:

Minimum of 12 people, including an anti Taliban mayor got killed and 36 other people were injured while a suicidal bomber struck a hectic marketplace on the periphery of Peshawar in north – west of Pakistan on Sunday. It is nearly just 2 weeks after, when a massive car bombing took place in the city leaving 120 people dead. Abdul Malik, the mayor who was in the forefront efforts against the Taliban, Malik’s nephew, a girl and the leader of a tribal militia were amongst the dead ones, the officials said on Monday. The Mayor’s son was amongst the injured in the incident. The Police said that Malik was the main target of the suicidal attack at the market in Mattani, a colony of Peshawar.

The Taliban has the claimed responsibility for this attack. Omar, a man claimed to be a Taliban spokesperson in the area, told media that Malik was targeted because he formed a tribal mercenaries to take on the activists. The bomber actually struck shortly just after 9.30 am, while the market was crammed with people busy in shopping for sacrificial of animals ahead of the famous Eid – ud – Zuha celebration. The injured were immediately taken to the hospital in cars and ambulances. The bomb squad is searching the place for further clues behind the blast, Police said on Sunday.