DERA ISMAIL KHAN: A bomb blast in a crowded market killed eight people and injured 38 others in Dera Ismail Khan on Sunday, hospital sources said.

Police said that bomb was planted in a cycle-cart parked in the city’s Gunj market at about 12 noon. The cart loaded with fruits was parked in front of the office of district president of Pakistan Muslim League (N) Raja Akhtar Ali.

More than seven shops were damaged in the blast and the venue littered with corpses. Four mutilated bodies have yet to be identified. Hospital sources said that eight people were killed and 38 wounded.

But District Coordination Officer Syed Mohsin Shah said that 20 people had suffered injuries. He said that the blast had no links with the sectarian violence which has plagued the city in recent months.

Police said that a five to nine kilogram explosive was used, and that the explosion damaged nearby electricity lines. Sources said that three Afghan nationals were also among the dead. Local people identified a young suspect who was arrested by the police and shifted to unknown location for interrogation.