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At least 52 people, including children and security personnel, were killed and about 200 others injured in a powerful suicide blast in Pakistan at Wagah on Sunday, minutes after the popular flag-lowering ceremony at the Indo-Pak border.
Al-Qaeda affiliated militant group Jandullah, which was behind a suicide bombing that killed at least 78 Christians at a church in Peshawar September last year, has claimed responsibility for the attack.
The spokesman of the splinter group of the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) Ahmed Marwat said the attack
was a reaction to military operation Zarb-i-Azb and Waziristan operation.
Earlier reports had said it could be a cylinder blast.
"A large number of people were returning after watching Rangers parade ceremony at Wagah border when a suicide bomber blew himself up near one of the exit gates," Inspector General Police of Punjab Police Mushtaq Sukhera said. He said three Rangers personnel were also among the dead.
To a question about security arrangements, the IG said, "The Rangers had made stringent security measures but it was difficult to check suicide bomber".
"We had reports that some banned outfits might target Shias, religious personalities, public processions and important buildings," IG Sukhera said.
He said, "Our teams have confirmed that it was a suicide blast". The IG said that the suicide bomber was stopped at the gate of the parade ground at the border and detonated the bomb right when people gathered near the gate.
"Up to five kilogrammes of explosive material was used in the blast. The bomb exploded outside a restaurant near a Pakistani paramilitary soldiers' checkpoint at Wagah border," he added.
Imdad Husain, an eyewitness, told reporters that he was returning after watching the parade ceremony when he heard a bang near the Wagah border market.
"I fell unconscious. When I gained consciousness there had been complete darkness. Many injured and I cried for help lying on the road. After 15 minutes some rescue men came towards me and shifted me to the Ghurki Hospital, a border area health facility," he said.
Samina Bibi was also returning along with her husband and two young children when the blast took place. On the bed of the Ghurki Hospital she was crying and asking the doctors about her husband and children. "The doctors were comforting her saying they are alright," Imdad said.
Punjab Emergency Services Rescue 1122 spokesman Jam Sajjad told PTI that the death toll might rise.
"We have shifted about 200 injured in different hospitals of Lahore," he said. Quoting a senior doctor at Ghurki Hospital, he said the condition of over a dozen is critical.
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has condemned the Lahore blast and ordered the authorities concerned to provide best medical facilities to the injured.
No Wagah border ceremony for the next 3 days
On request from the Pak Rangers, the BSF has agreed to cancel the ceremony for the next three days.
According to BSF sources, there was an intel and information that there could be attack on the Pakistani side. "The Wagah ceremony was on hit list of jihadi organisations. There was alertness sounded on both side of the border. A loud explosion was heard at 6:12 pm, as soon as the retreat ceremony got over. The blast happened 500 metres from the Pakistan side of Wagah border," a BSF official said.
Co-ordinated attack?
Jamat-Ul-Aahrar, a splinter group of former commanders of the TTP such as TTP spokesperson Ihsanullah Ihsan, TTP Swat faction head Omar Khorasani and at least 4 other tribal groups of the bordering areas with Afghanistan, has also claimed responsibility of the attack. It seems that the attack was a coordinated attack between Jundullah and Jamat-ul-Ahrar militant groups, reports stated.
Read more at: Wagah border blast: 52 killed, 200 injured in suicide attack, terror outfits claim responsibility : World, News - India Today
Al-Qaeda affiliated militant group Jandullah, which was behind a suicide bombing that killed at least 78 Christians at a church in Peshawar September last year, has claimed responsibility for the attack.
The spokesman of the splinter group of the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) Ahmed Marwat said the attack
was a reaction to military operation Zarb-i-Azb and Waziristan operation.
Earlier reports had said it could be a cylinder blast.
"A large number of people were returning after watching Rangers parade ceremony at Wagah border when a suicide bomber blew himself up near one of the exit gates," Inspector General Police of Punjab Police Mushtaq Sukhera said. He said three Rangers personnel were also among the dead.
To a question about security arrangements, the IG said, "The Rangers had made stringent security measures but it was difficult to check suicide bomber".
"We had reports that some banned outfits might target Shias, religious personalities, public processions and important buildings," IG Sukhera said.
He said, "Our teams have confirmed that it was a suicide blast". The IG said that the suicide bomber was stopped at the gate of the parade ground at the border and detonated the bomb right when people gathered near the gate.
"Up to five kilogrammes of explosive material was used in the blast. The bomb exploded outside a restaurant near a Pakistani paramilitary soldiers' checkpoint at Wagah border," he added.
Imdad Husain, an eyewitness, told reporters that he was returning after watching the parade ceremony when he heard a bang near the Wagah border market.
"I fell unconscious. When I gained consciousness there had been complete darkness. Many injured and I cried for help lying on the road. After 15 minutes some rescue men came towards me and shifted me to the Ghurki Hospital, a border area health facility," he said.
Samina Bibi was also returning along with her husband and two young children when the blast took place. On the bed of the Ghurki Hospital she was crying and asking the doctors about her husband and children. "The doctors were comforting her saying they are alright," Imdad said.
Punjab Emergency Services Rescue 1122 spokesman Jam Sajjad told PTI that the death toll might rise.
"We have shifted about 200 injured in different hospitals of Lahore," he said. Quoting a senior doctor at Ghurki Hospital, he said the condition of over a dozen is critical.
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has condemned the Lahore blast and ordered the authorities concerned to provide best medical facilities to the injured.
No Wagah border ceremony for the next 3 days
On request from the Pak Rangers, the BSF has agreed to cancel the ceremony for the next three days.
According to BSF sources, there was an intel and information that there could be attack on the Pakistani side. "The Wagah ceremony was on hit list of jihadi organisations. There was alertness sounded on both side of the border. A loud explosion was heard at 6:12 pm, as soon as the retreat ceremony got over. The blast happened 500 metres from the Pakistan side of Wagah border," a BSF official said.
Co-ordinated attack?
Jamat-Ul-Aahrar, a splinter group of former commanders of the TTP such as TTP spokesperson Ihsanullah Ihsan, TTP Swat faction head Omar Khorasani and at least 4 other tribal groups of the bordering areas with Afghanistan, has also claimed responsibility of the attack. It seems that the attack was a coordinated attack between Jundullah and Jamat-ul-Ahrar militant groups, reports stated.
Read more at: Wagah border blast: 52 killed, 200 injured in suicide attack, terror outfits claim responsibility : World, News - India Today
