Taliban strike near Sharif’s Lahore residence kills 10
LAHORE: A Taliban suicide bomber attacked a police checkpost near the residence of Pakistan’s ousted prime minister Nawaz Sharif in Lahore, killing 10 people, including six policemen, police said.
According to rescue officials, the blast took place on Wednesday night, a few kilometers from the palatial residence of the Sharif family, and next to the congregation of the Tableeghi Jamaat centre.
“Five policemen - two inspectors and three constables - are among nine persons killed in the blast,” Rescue 1122 spokesman Jam Sajjad had told PTI.
On Thursday, one more policeman succumbed to his injuries, bring the death toll to 10.
Around 14 policemen are among 25 injured. The condition of some of them is stated to be critical.
According to Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), four suspected militants tried to enter the Tableeghi Jamaat gathering but were stopped by policemen.
One of the attackers then blew himself up while the remaining managed to flee from the spot, the Express Tribune reported.
Deputy Inspector General Police Lahore Dr Haider Ashraf said: “A teenaged boy blew himself up at the check post set up close to the Tableeghi centre where at least 14 or so cops were present”.
He said “police personnel” were the target of the blast. “The condition of some policemen is critical,” he said.
Some reports said the Tahreek-i-Taliban Pakistan has claimed the responsibility of the blast and the group has threatened more attacks on police.