Blast in Lahore’s Anarkali Bazaar leaves two dead, 28 injured

F.P. Report

LAHORE: A huge bomb explosion rocked Lahore’s busiest shopping market on Thursday killed three people and injured 28 others including four in critical condition.

A heavy contingent of police rushed to the blast site – a prize bond shop – in Anarkali Bazaar near Lahore’s historic Walled City. Police said that over one kilogram locally made bomb was used the blast.  

Rescue 1122 officials said that two dead were identified as 31-year-old Muhammad Ramzan and 9-year-old Absar.

The injured include Jamil (50), Abdullah (22), Salman (37), Salman (31), Samiullah (24), Ejaz (25),  Arslan (17), Anwar (45), Sheikh Zaman (18), Zaheer Iqbal (54), Muhammad Adeem (32), Ahmed (27), Bilal (30), Faisal Saeed (27), Tahir Hafeez (33), Haider Tahir (35), Ashad Khalid (20), Azhar (42), Zawar Khan (50), Waheed (21), Faisal Butt (21) and three women—Nabeela Bibi (45), Nesha Salman (25), Rida Khalid (22).

Prime Minister Imran khan and Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar sought reports from the relevant authorities and ordered best medical facilities to the injured. Punjab IGP also took notice of the blast and sought a report from Lahore CCPO. 

Punjab CM Usman Buzdar said that the blast near Anarkali Bazaar Lahore was a vicious act of sabotaging the atmosphere of law and order. “We share the grief and pain of the families of those killed in the blast and instructions have been given to provide the best medical care to the injured.”

The police took control of the situation cordoning off the blast site at Paan Mandi in Anarkali. “Initial investigations show that it was a time-controlled device on a motorbike which was the cause of the blast,” Rana Arif, spokesman for Lahore police, told AFP.

The shop caught fire after the explosion reducing it to ashes as forensic experts said that a time device was used to detonate the bomb.

Three people including a nine-year-old boy were killed and 28 others were injured, eight of them seriously. The wounded were rushed to the nearby Mayo Hospital.

Police earlier said that it appeared to be a cylinder blast while the Rescue 112 officials said it looked like a bomb blast.

DIG Operations told newsmen at the blast scene that nature of the blast will be determined after receiving final report of the technical experts.