At least 52Fifty-Two Killed, Over 100 Injured in Blast Near the Wagah Border in Lahore ISLAMABAD: At least 52 Fifty-two people died and over 100 were injured today in a blast at the Wagah border in Lahore, Pakistan, minutes after the flag lowering ceremony. Inspector General, Pakistans Punjab province, said it was a suicide attack. Initial reports indicate the suicide bomber was around 18 years old. The casualties are mostly civilian - three Pakistani Ranger personnel have been killed and five have been injured. A family of eight is among the deceased. According to the police, the blast took place at 6:12 PM outside the parade ground near the Wagah border, 500 metres from the Indian side. Hundreds come to watch the ceremony at sunset and the victims, today, were on their way back when the attack took place. The injured are being treated at the local hospitals -- the Ghurki Hospital, the Services Hospital and the Shalimar Hospital. The Medical Superintendent of Ghurki Hospital confirmed that 48 dead bodies had been brought in. The Border Security Force, which mans the Indian side of the border at Attari, told media they suspected a suicide bombing. They are trying to contact the Pakistan Rangers. Sources also said there was an alert about a possible suicide attack 15 days ago, after which security was strengthened on both sides of the border. The Pakistan Rangers had put up extra barricades and personnel, as had the BSF. The ceremony at the Wagah-Attari border has been one of the longest in operation between India and Pakistan. It had continued largely untouched by the many ups and downs in the relationship between the two countries, including the recent ceasefire violations at the border. ..........ON SAME DAY IN 2 November 2009 Rawalpindi bombing , The November 2009 Rawalpindi bombing was a suicide attack carried out in front of the Mall Road branch of National Bank of Pakistan in Rawalpindi, Pakistan. The blast area was considered to be a very safe and high security place which was subjected to a 22-hour siege by militants. Taliban blamed for this deadly blast which occurred when Pakistan government announced £3m in rewards for the capture of the Taliban leadership. Terrorist attacks in Pakistan (since 2001) The blast occurred when an alleged suicide bomber riding a motorcycle blew up himself outside the door of a local bank near Shalimar Hotel behind Pearl Continental Hotel, which is also a commercial area. A witness to the blast said, We were sitting on the second floor of our office. It was a huge blast, Our building shook as if in an earthquake and when we came out there was smoke everywhere and body parts were thrown into our office. Rescue teams have arrived on the blast area and emergency declared in major hospitals while many education institutions were closed in city and high security deployed in the sensitive areas
Posted on: Sun, 02 Nov 2014 16:41:25 +0000
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