Two blasts, 30 seconds apart, devastate Lahore’s Moon Market, injure over 100
* Subsequent inferno halts rescue efforts
* Officials unsure of the nature of blasts
* Several markets in Lahore to remain closed today
LAHORE/PESHAWAR: Bomb explosions tore through Lahore and Peshawar on Monday, killing at least 47 people and injuring around 150 in the two cities.
Two blasts devastated the busy Moon Market in Lahore’s Allama Iqbal Town and engulfed it in flames, killing at least 38 people, and injuring more than 100. In Peshawar, a suicide bomber killed nine people outside the city’s sessions courts. The Moon Market transformed into a scene of flames and rubble when the two bombs exploded 30 seconds apart at 8:45pm. A suicide bomber had also targeted Moon Market in August last year in which nine people were killed.
The first blast occurred outside a plaza housing a branch of the Muslim Commercial Bank, while the other outside the Allama Iqbal Town police station, situated across the road.
Rescue efforts: As the first bomb went off, the plaza where the bank is situated, and an adjacent building went up in flames, halting rescue work, Nazeer Ahmed, a security guard who was at the spot when the blasts occurred, said. Nazeer said the fire made it impossible to rescue anyone from the burning buildings.
Officials unsure: The Punjab law minister, police officials and officials of the Bomb Disposal Squad, rescue officials and witnesses could not say if the blasts were suicide attacks or remote-controlled detonations.
The officials also could not say for certain how much explosive material had been used in the blasts until the filing of this report.
Punjab Inspector General Tariq Saleem Dogar said the bombs might have been detonated by remote control, while Superintendent of Police Ali Nasir Rizvi said he was not certain if a suicide bomber was involved. “We have recovered 33 dead bodies so far,” said Dr Rizwan Naseer, director general of Rescue 1122, and put the toll for the injured at 95. Lahore police chief Pervez Rathore put the death toll slightly lower: “Twenty-seven people are confirmed dead but the death toll may rise. A total of 137 people were injured,” he said. “The blasts knocked out electricity in the area, as fire engulfed the whole market. We fear there are still dead bodies inside [the buildings].”
Condemning the bomb attack and sympathising with the victims, traders in several parts of the city announced to keep markets closed today (Tuesday), according to a private TV channel.
The twin blasts in Lahore took the number of terrorist attacks across the country in the last 30 days to 11, in which at least 169 people have been killed.
Peshawar: In Peshawar, a suicide bomber blew himself up at the gates of the Peshawar Sessions Court, killing nine people and injuring another 44, police said.
Public Prosecutor Arifullah was among those killed in the attack, while two lawyers, Asad Shangla and Kanwar Kamal Ahmed, were among the injured. The blast occurred outside the main gate of the sessions court on Sher Shah Suri Road in the city’s high security zone, which is situated close to the MPAs’ Hostel, Peshawar Central Jail, Governor’s House and the NWFP Civil Secretariat.
This is the second attack to target court premises in Peshawar in less than a month. Earlier on November 19, a suicide bomber killed 19 people outside the Peshawar Judicial Complex.
Peshawar Police chief Liaqat Ali Khan told reporters at the crime scene on Monday that the suicide bomber arrived at the premises on a rickshaw and tried to enter the court building, but detonated the explosives strapped to his body when the police stopped him at the main gate.
“The attacker was trying to hit sensitive installations but policemen foiled his attempt by sacrificing their lives,” Liaqat said. Bomb Disposal Squad officials said around six to seven kilogrammes of explosives were used in the attack.
NWFP Senior Minister Bashir Ahmed Bilour told reporters at the blast scene that the nation stood by the army until the elimination of terrorists from the country.
Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani condemned the bombing, a statement from his office said.
The US embassy also condemned the suicide bombing.
“This vicious attack is yet another attack on the democratic institutions of Pakistan and the rule of law. We express our deep condolences to the victims’ families and pray for a speedy recovery for all those injured,” a press release issued by the embassy said. rana tanveer/muhammad aayan/manzoor ali shah/agencies
