Two bicycle bombs exploded minutes apart in Pakistanâs eastern city of Lahore yesterday, killing at least six people and injuring more than 30, police and security officials said. Security was tightened across Lahore and investigators said they were probing various leads, including links to Islamic hard-liners angered by President Pervez Musharrafâs recent crackdown on extremist groups. âThose involved in these terrorist activities are enemies of humanity,â Punjab province Chief Minister Chaudhry Pervez Elahi told private GEO television. Lahore is the capital of Punjab. | Thank you for that statement of the obvious... |
Minutes later a second device detonated near a cigarette kiosk in Icchra, Lahoreâs busiest shopping district, triggering an explosion in a nearby fireworks shop, police said. âFour people were burned to death instantly and up to 20 people were injured,â said Icchraâs local head of police, Waqar Ahmed. Another injured person died on his way to hospital.
Both bombs were locally made and planted on bicycles, provincial Law Minister Raja Basharat told AFP. The first bomb was a low intensity device while the second was packed with iron nails and ball bearings, he added. âIt appears to be an act of terrorism and the two explosions appeared to be interlinked. We have heightened security in Lahore and elsewhere in Punjab,â Basharat said.