Taliban denies responsibility for twin bomb blasts

Pakistan - MAP - Taliban on Sunday denied responsibility for twin bomb blasts that ripped through a crowded market in the northwestern city of Peshawar, killing 35 people and injuring dozens.

The attack, one of the deadliest to hit Pakistan since US Navy SEALs killed Al Qaeda founder Osama Bin Laden in May, devastated the Khyber Super Market district which includes a hotel, shops and student accommodation.

“We did not carry out this attack in Peshawar. It is an attempt by foreign secret agencies who are doing it to malign us,” Tehreek-e-Taliban spokesman Ehsanullah Ehsan told AFP on phone.

“We do not target innocent people. Our targets are very clear, we attack security forces, government and people who are siding with it,” Mr. Ehsan said.

A small initial blast at around 11:30 p.m. local time Saturday drew onlookers and emergency services before a second more powerful blast, believed to be from a suicide strike, detonated and was heard for miles around.