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| India-Pakistan |
| At least 45 killed as twin bombs hit Lahore |
| 2009-12-08 |
| [Dawn] Two powerful bomb blasts ripped through the busy Moon Market in Lahore's Allama Iqbal Town late in the night, claiming at least 45. The blasts, which took place within a radius of 30 metre, also caused a massive fire in a crowded shopping mall. The blasts knocked out electricity supply. Monday's strike was the second terrorist attack in Iqbal Town. On August 13, a suicide bomber blew himself up at the same market, killing nine people, including two children. Lahore Commissioner Khusro Pervaiz told reporters that the death toll could rise as fire-fighters struggled to put out the blaze to rescue the trapped people till late in the night. Rescue teams retrieved several charred bodies from the building. A number of the injured people taken to different city hospitals were said to be in a critical condition. According to police, the first blast took place outside a bank and the other near a police station. People ran for their lives as the two blasts took place within a few seconds at about 8.45pm. SSP (operations) Chaudhry Shafique Ahmed told Dawn that the first blast had been carried out by a suicide bomber. The Iqbal Town SP said police had recovered some body parts, including the head and legs of the suspected bomber. He said police had also seized a damaged motorcycle allegedly used for planting a time device. However, Punjab Law Minister Rana Sanaullah and senior officials insisted that the blasts could have been triggered remotely. The commissioner blamed India for the blasts. But the law minister said that militants from Waziristan were involved. A number of shops in the market were destroyed and windowpanes of nearby buildings and houses shattered. Dozens of cars and motorcycles were damaged. Most people falling prey to the bloody attacks were either shopping or dining out at the time of the incident. The blasts were heard in a radius of a few kilometres. Panic gripped the area and all major markets in the city were closed. Traders announced closure of the market on Tuesday in protest against the incident. People accused police of not taking effective precautionary measures despite threats that terrorists could target markets in the city. 'I was passing through the market when the first blast took place outside the MCB Bank, where people were enjoying their food,' said Mohammad Qaiser, of Sabzazar. 'Soon after the blast I found at least 10 people lying on the ground with blood and limbs strewn all around,' he added. Imran Hussian, a shopkeeper, said, 'I was outside the shop when a huge blast shook the entire market. A few seconds later, another explosion was heard on the outskirts of the market.' He said he and other people ran for their lives. 'When we returned after some time, we saw the injured screaming and crying for pain. A big fire erupted in the market,' he said. Meanwhile, police set up pickets across the city and rounded up several suspects for investigation. |
| Posted by:Fred |
| #3 1. Over 60 confirmed dead as of now 2. Lahore is about as far away from the Taliban controlled territory as it is possible to be, in the east side of Punjab province; the Taliban are making a point that everything is within their reach 3. As pointed out, many Paks still deny that the Taliban are responsible, even the educated ones, even after years and years of this stuff; if there was a Guiness book entry for denial, the Paks would surely rate a gold medal here |
| Posted by: lord garth 2009-12-08 09:46 |
| #2 The commissioner blamed India for the blasts Of course it's India's fault. If they would just submit---Pakis will be too busy robbing, raping, and murdering Indians to kill each other. |
| Posted by: g(r)omgoru 2009-12-08 03:53 |
| #1 The commissioner blamed India for the blasts /Shakes head sadly |
| Posted by: Gaz 2009-12-08 02:20 |