Police official, Hamid Ali Khan, arrived shortly after the explosion. He says more than a hundred people had gathered around to buy fruit, which was being unloaded from the back of a truck when the bomb exploded. One of the fruit crates, when it was placed on the ground, it exploded. Authorities in the provincial capital, Peshawar, say the three arrested men were responsible for loading the truck before it made the journey to the market. No one has claimed responsibility for the attack, which is the bloodiest of about 40 bombings that have rocked Pakistani cities this year.
Many attacks target markets, bus stations and other crowded public places.
Factional fighting and political violence has plagued the country for years. However, during times of unrest in Pakistan, the federal capital, Islamabad, has traditionally remained calm.