Lahore (July 24, 2017): At least 27 people including nine policemen have been killed and several wounded in a blast in Kot Lukhput ‘s vegetable market at Ferozepur Road in Lahore today as rescue teams and security agencies have reached at the spot.
Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) has claimed the suicide blast responsibility.
58 people were also injured in the explosion. Many of the injured are said to be in critical condition.
The injured, including police personnel and dead have been shifted to General Hospital. Police and security agencies along with Bomb Disposal Squad (BDS) have cordoned off the area and started investigation.
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Forensics teams have started collecting evidence from the blast site, after which the nature of explosion will be confirmed.
Blast occurred in Kot Lukhput, Sabzi Mandi, while the operation against the encroachment was being continued and several illegal construction have been demolished.
وزیراعلیٰ پنجاب محمد شہبازشریف کی کوٹ لکھپت سبزی منڈی میں دھماکے کی شدید مذمت۔ pic.twitter.com/obVUp1jBLb
— Govt Of The Punjab (@GovtOfPunjab) July 24, 2017
Police feared that the attack was suicide as suicide attacker hit his bike with the truck of LDA.
Eyewitness told that a suicide jacket was also found at the blast scene. Emergency was declared in General and other nearby hospitals.
According to Awan, an anti-encroachment drive was underway in the area when the explosion took place. The anti-riot police officials were deployed for the drive.
Contingents of Pak Army have also reached the site of the blast.
The area where the explosion occurred is a busy locality near the office of Punjab chief minister.
Punjab Law Minister Rana Sanaullah, addressing a press conference, said terrorism can not be ruled out as the motive behind the explosion. He added that security forces are conducting their investigations.
Sanaullah further said that the government has started a security operation against terror organisations and the situation is much better when compared to 2011-12.
Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan confirmed that an anti-encroachment drive was being conducted at the time explosion. Anti-riot police personnel were deployed at the spot among others.
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Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has expressed sorrow over the loss of precious lives in the blast. He directed authorities to provide all possible medical assistance to wounded of the suicide attack.
Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa has condemned the blast and has directed the Army to provide immediate relief and rescue. Army troops have also reached the site.
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Chief Minister Punjab has condemned the attack and has expressed sympathies with injured and the families of those killed.
Ferozepur road links Lahore to Kasur and is a busy thoroughfare. Lahore’s Metro Bus also passes through this route.
Earlier in April, six people were martyred and 15 others wounded when a suicide bomber targeted a population census team in Lahore’s Bedian Road.
In February, a suicide bomber martyred 14 people, including senior police officers, when a suicide bomber hit close to the Punjab Assembly in Lahore when hundreds of demonstrators had gathered for a protest.
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Initial Inquiry Report
Initial report confirmed that the blast was suicide and attacker was on bike. Tehreek Taliban Pakistan has claimed the responsibility and issued the picture of the attacker. According to TTP the attacker named as Fida Hussain and his age was between 16 to 18 yeares and his target was police.
Initial probe revealed that the motorcycle used in suicide blast in Lahore was registered to Usman Ali, who is the residence of Lahore.
The 12kg of explosive material with ball bearing were used in the blast. Police and investigative agencies are also probing the TTP released picture and statement. The Chief Minister Punjab has been apprised regarding the initial inquiry.
Safe city project exposed
The Punjab government’s so-called claims of making Lahore safe has been exposed after the Lahore blast, that killed 27 people, as the cameras fitted on Ferozepur Road were out of order and investigative teams failed to get vital evidence from crime scene.
The malfunctioned camera fitted under the safe city project could not provide any evidence to police, however the surveillance cameras installed on Arfa Karim Towers is being used to probe the blast. Police sources said that the cameras on Arfa Karim Tower are faraway and could not capture the angles needed for the inquiry, however it is the only way to get help.
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