MOSCOW — A suicide bomber detonated a car packed with explosives outside a market in the southeastern Russian town of Vladikavkaz on Thursday, killing at least 16 and injuring more than 100, according to local authorities and news reports.

The blast occurred at a peak marketing time in the town in Russia’s North Ossetia republic. A slow-moving sedan pulled up near the market’s front gate and exploded about 11:30 a.m., overturning cars, stalls and kiosks and shattering windows in nearby houses, said North Ossetia interior ministry spokesman Samir Sabatkoyev.

There were “”many people and cars in front of the market,”” Sabatkoyev said. The body of the bomber was found inside the charred remains of the vehicle, he said.

No one immediately claimed responsibility for the bombing.

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and Prime Minister Vladimir Putin condemned the attack in news reports. Medvedev said, “”We will do our best to catch … these rascals who committed a terrorist act against ordinary people,”” Interfax news agency quoted Medvedev as saying.

Putin noted that the attack occurred on the Muslim holiday of Uraza Bayram. “”It is sad to note … there are people who even on this bright holy day commit such horrible crimes as the one committed in Vladikavkaz today,”” Putin said. “”Those who do it certainly are people without a soul, without a heart.””

Madina Gagloyeva, a 44-year-old housewife, saw the explosion from her home nearby. She said she had returned from the market minutes before the attack.

“”There was a lot smoke and dust, cars were overturned and smoking, and at least one car was burning.”” Gagloyeva said. “”People were screaming and running around the cars, some were sitting or crawling, some bodies were lying on the street.””

Thursday’s explosion occurred only four days after a similar attack in the neighboring republic of Dagestan in which a suicide car bomb exploded on the testing grounds of a Russian military base near the town of Buynaksk, killing four and injuring 35 soldiers.