Lahore blast causes 'large number of casualties' (Pakistan) [View All]

Source: MSNBC

Lahore blast causes 'large number of casualties'

Powerful bomb rips buildings apart in eastern Pakistani city; gunfire heard

LAHORE, Pakistan - A powerful bomb exploded in the eastern Pakistani city of Lahore on Wednesday, ripping buildings apart and causing many casualties, according to officials and television footage.

The mid-morning blast occurred at the office of the emergency police service in the main business district of Lahore. The nearby office of Pakistan's main intelligence agency was also badly damaged.

"There is a large number of casualties," local government official Khoro Pervaiz told Pakistan's Dawn news channel.

Sporadic gunfire was heard in the area of the blast, and troops rushed to the scene.

Television footage taken shortly after the blast showed emergency workers carrying at least one body covered by a blanket to an ambulance, and injured bystanders mopping blood from wounds.

Huge blast rocks Pakistani city


Smoke from the blast could be
seen rising above the city

A powerful car bomb outside the main police station in the Pakistani city of Lahore has killed at least seven people and injured 100, police say.

The blast on the Mall Road destroyed a police emergency response building and TV stations are showing a collapsed building and gutted vehicles.

A car driven by a suspected suicide bomber smashed through a barrier and exploded, officials said.

Lahore, Pakistan's second-largest city, saw several bomb attacks recently.

Police commandos were seen arresting a man after the explosion.

The blast was powerful enough to shear walls off buildings in the main business district of Lahore.

Several high-security buildings, including offices of the local police chief and the Inter-Services Intelligence service (ISI) are in the area, and the ISI building was damaged.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/8069467.stm

Read more: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/30953356/

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