July 2017 Lahore suicide bombing

LocationFerozepur Road, Lahore, Punjab, PakistanDate24 July 2017
15:55:34 (PST)TargetPolice officialsSuicide bombingDeaths26 (+1 bomber)Injured54VictimsPolicemen and civiliansPerpetratorsTehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (claimed responsibility)^[1]1

On 24 July 2017, a suicide bombing took place in a vegetable market in Lahore, Pakistan. 26 people were killed and 58 others were wounded as a result of the explosion. Security officials believe that the attack targeted policemen, as there were 9 killed and 6 wounded.^[2][3] Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan claimed responsibility for the attack.^[1]

Bombing

At around 15:55 (PST),^[4] a motorbike bomb struck an old vegetable market in the neighbourhood of Kot Lakhpat.^[5] The market was full of police at the time because officers had been sent to clear stalls that had illegally spilled into the road.^[6] According to DIG Operations Haider Ashraf, the blast was a suicide attack and "police were the target."^[7] Two vehicles, including one motorcycle, have reportedly been damaged.^[8]

Hussain, one of the injured policemen told The Express Tribune:^[9]

We were standing under a tree when I spotted an auto rickshaw coming from the wrong side. I rushed to warn the driver fearing he might get hurt as heavy machinery was tearing down encroachment in the area. As soon as I walked towards the rickshaw, a loud explosion went off tossing me on the ground. I tried to get up but stooped over due to excruciating pain in my back. I looked around and found bodies lying everywhere and blood splattered.

Aftermath

Soon after the attack, police and other law enforcement personnel reached the site of the incident and cordoned off the area. Forensics teams started collecting evidence from the blast site. Rescue 1122 teams started taking the injured to nearby hospitals^[1] where a state of emergency was imposed.^[10] Pictures of the deceased policemen were released on Lahore Police's official Twitter account.^[11]

Reactions

The then Prime Minister, Nawaz Sharif condemned the attack and expressed deep grief and sorrow over the loss of many lives.^[12] CM Punjab, Shahbaz Sharif condemned the attack saying, "No words can express the grief which grips my heart right now. [The] blast destroyed many families, but terrorists can never destroy our resolve."^[13] DG ISPR Asif Ghafoor tweeted, "COAS shares grief with victim families of Lhr blast. Directs for immediate rescue and relief efforts. Troops reached at site."^[14] Chairman of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Imran Khan has condemned Lahore blast and termed it the "worst example of terrorism". PTI Secretary Information Shafqat Mahmood also condemned the blast and expressed his sympathies to the bereaved families.^[15] Tahir-ul-Qadri have also condemned the attack.^[16] In a tweet, he said, "The loss of precious lives in [the] terrorist attack in Lahore is regrettable and highly condemnable."^[17] Interior Minister, Chudhary Nisar postponed his much awaited press conference saying it was not possible for him to address political issues in the wake of casualties.^[18] Maryam Nawaz, in a tweet, said, "Sad, heart-wrenching news from Lahore. May Allah SWT protect Pakistan. Ameen".^[19]

See also

• Terrorist incidents in Pakistan in 2017

References