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, nearly two weeks after a massive car bombing in the northwestern Pakistani city left nearly 120 people dead.

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.

Malik, who survived several attempts on his life in the past, was earlier considered to be close to the Taliban but later turned against the militants. Police cordoned off the market and collected the body parts of the bomber while bomb disposal experts scoured the site for clues.