Peshawar: A suicide bomber struck at a packed market on the outskirts of Peshawar on Sunday, killing at least eight persons - including a local Mayor believed to be the target of the attack - and injuring 31.

Officials at the Lady Reading Hospital, Peshawar's main healthcare facility, said nine of the wounded were in a serious condition.

Abdul Malik, local 'nazim' or Mayor, and a young girl were among the eight persons who died in the attack, District administration chief Shahibzada Muhammad Anees said. He said 31 others were injured in the blast, the latest in a wave of deadly terrorist strikes across Pakistan.

The bomber struck shortly after 9:30 am local time, when the market was packed with people. The injured were taken to hospitals in private cars and ambulances. Police officials said Malik was the target of the suicide attack at the cattle market in Mattani, a suburb of Peshawar.

Police said Malik was attacked as he heads a 'lashkar' or tribal militia that has opposed attempts by the Taliban to extend their influence to Alizai area in Mattani. In the past, his home had been targeted with rockets and mortars by the militants.

Witnesses said the bomber, who was on foot, detonated his explosives as soon as Malik emerged from his car. Several cars and shops in the market were destroyed by the blast.

Police cordoned off the market and collected the body parts of the bomber while bomb disposal experts scoured the site for clues.

No group claimed responsibility for the attack, though officials pointed the finger at the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan.

Peshawar has been rocked by several suicide attacks and bombings over the past few weeks. Nearly 120 people were killed when a car bomb packed with 150 kg of explosives ripped through a bustling commercial hub, including a market meant exclusively for women, in the city on October 28.

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