Blast rips through Pakistan market

At least 23 people killed and dozens wounded in a powerful explosion near Rawalpindi.

At least 23 people have been killed and 39 injured in a powerful explosion at a fruit and vegetable market on the outskirts of Pakistan's capital city of Islamabad, hospital sources have told Al Jazeera.

Police officials said on Wednesday that explosives were planted in fruit crates at the Sabzi Mandi market in the Pir Wadai area, which lies between the twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi. 

The bomb went off as morning shoppers were buying supplies at the market.

Sultan Mehmood, a police officer at Sabzi Mandi police station told Al Jazeera that officers are conducting a search operation at the location.

The injured were taken to the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) hospital for treatment.

Al Jazeera's Kamal Hyder reported that there were no women or children casualties. The blast left a 1.5m diameter crater at the market, which is known to be crowded in the mornings, and was heard up to eight kilometers away. 

There were no immediate claims of responsibility for the attack. 

In a statement, the Tehreek-e-Taliban armed group denounced the attack at the market and Tuesday attack on a train in the southwestern province of Balochistan, killing at least 14.

The Taliban are currently in negotiations with Pakistan's government to try to resolve years of deadly fighting in the northwest that has killed tens of thousands of people.