10 dead, 40 hurt after suicide attack in Lahore

International Desk: Ten people died and at least 40 were injured when a suicide bomber blew himself up in Pakistan's Lahore, outside the gates of the assembly house of Punjab province.

Two top police officers were among the deceased. Punjab Law Minister Rana Sanaullah has confirmed that the blast was a suicide attack.

Pakistani media reported that the blast took place early this evening on Mall Road, a busy locality, where a protest rally was being held by the city's chemists. The blast was so powerful that it was heard several kilometers from the spot, locals said.

Lahore Traffic Police chief Captain Mobeen Ahmed and Senior Superintendent Police Lahore Zahid Gondal were among the deceased. There was heavy police presence in the area in view of the protest.

"The target was not the protest demonstration but the police officers," news agency Press Trust of India quoted a police officer as saying.

Last year, a bombing had taken place in a public park of the city that killed nearly 70 people.

Agencies


risingbd/Dhaka/Feb 13, 2017/Nasim