LAHORE: Terrorists struck again the Punjab Capital early Wednesday morning at Bedian road in Cantonment Area when they targeted the Census team killing at least six persons including four army personnel and injuring 18 others in a suicide bombing. The martyred armed forces personnel included three from the army and one from the PAF. Others were civilians.
According to police sources, the attack was carried out by a suicide bomber, but it was unclear if the bomber carried out the attack on foot or riding a motorcycle. The suicide bomber is reported to be between 20 to 22 years. Police sources said that 8 to 10 kgs of explosives and ball bearings were used in the blast. Sources said the blast was very powerful and body parts of the suicide bomber were found almost one hundred yards away. They said that DNA tests would be carried out to find out who the bomber was.
“I was standing a hundred steps away from the incident,” an eyewitness said. “I called 112 [Emergency Ambulance Service] “. Rescue teams reached the site soon after the incident was reported, while security personnel cordoned off the area.
No terrorist organisation has so far claimed responsibility for the attack, but Punjab Law Minister Rana Sanaullah said the latest incident appeared to be a terrorist attack. He said Lahore had been on a security high alert and it was regrettable the blast took place despite the alert.
The minister said security concerns would remain until all hideouts of the banned terrorist outfit Jamaat ul Ahrar were destroyed. “Jamaat ul Ahrar has claimed all the recent terrorist attacks in Lahore so far,” Sanaullah said, adding that the perpetrators of Wednesday’s attack would soon be found. The minister also expressed concern over the presence of terrorist hideouts in Afghanistan and claimed many terrorist attacks in Pakistan were being planned from Nangarhar area of Afghanistan.
An unnamed police official said the explosion was caused when a suicide bomber blew himself up near an army vehicle. The explosion led to a fire that engulfed the cars parked nearby. Security forces have arrested 16 suspected persons for interrogation while a search operation has been launched to find out the facilitators of the suicide bomber. The injured were shifted to the Combined Military Hospital (CMH) and General Hospital. Three of the injured are said to be in a critical condition. An emergency has been declared in the hospitals of Lahore.
Commissioner Lahore Abdullah Khan Sunbal said that there was a comprehensive security arrangement for the census team. He said the census would continue and other security personnel would be provided. Corps Commander Lahore visited some of the injured admitted in CMH.
INP