PESHAWAR, Pakistan, June 13 (UPI) -- A Taliban spokesman, denying a role in weekend bombings in Peshawar, Pakistan, said the group targets only security forces fighting with the United States.
Twin blasts Saturday in a crowded shopping area in Peshawar killed at least 35 people and injured more than 100 others. The second explosion was believed to have been set off by a suicide bomber.
The northwest city close to Afghanistan has been the scene of much violence in recent months, leaving hundreds dead. The situation has worsened since the May 2 killing of al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden by U.S. forces in the Pakistani garrison town of Abbottabad, with terror groups vowing to avenge his death.
Taliban spokesman Ehsanullah Ehsan, speaking by telephone from the North Waziristan tribal region, denied any role in the Saturday attacks, the Voice of America reported.
"We do not target civilians and mosques," Ehsan said. "Our targets are security forces fighting with the United States."
The report said the late-night bombings caused much damage in the Khyber Supermarket district and police had detained about 25 people for questioning.
Other reports said the tactic appeared to be to draw police and crowds into the area with a small explosion and then to set off the much larger suicide bombing immediately thereafter to cause maximum casualties.
