Lahore Blast: 5 policemen among 9 killed, TTP claims responsibility

At least nine people, including five policemen, were killed in a suicide bombing in Raiwind on Wednesday night.

Police said that the suicide bomber blew himself near a police check-post near a religious gathering of Tablighi Jamat. The police said that an official on duty stopped the suicide bomber for body search before he made his way to the religious gathering and it was the moment when he blew himself.

Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) in a statement sent to French news agency claimed the responsibility of the attack threatening more attacks on police in retaliation for killing their “associates” in Punjab.

DIG Operations Lahore Dr Ashraf said that nine people including five policemen were killed in the attack and 14 other injured. “Apparently, it was a suicide attack targeting the check post”, the DIG added.

Investigators cordoned off the area and collected all available evidences.

However, the sources said the suicide bomber might have planted the bomb in motorcycle and rammed into the police check post. Sources in the CID said that the circumstantial evidence suggested it was a suicide attack. Sources said that nothing could be stated unless the investigations were finalized.

Punjab chief minister Shahbaz Sharif condemned the attack and commended the bravery of police officials.

Brave police officials lay down their lives in the line of duty. The nation is proud of sacrifices that the Punjab police, security officials & our citizens have rendered in the war on terrorism. Prayers for the departed souls & bereaved families who lost their loved ones!

— Shehbaz Sharif (@CMShehbaz) March 14, 2018

The injured were admitted to four different hospitals – Jinnah hospital, General Headquarters hospital, Tehsil Headquarters hospital Raiwind, and Sharif City Medical hospital. Officials said 30 injured were under treatment in these hospitals.

The funeral prayers of five policemen killed in the incident were offered at police lines Qila Gujjar Singh. Later, their bodies were sent to their native areas.

Wednesday’s blast was the third suicide attack targeting Lahore police during the past two years. In July 2017, at least 26 people, including nine policemen, died and 58 others were injured in suicide bombing near Arfa Karim IT Tower on Ferozepur Road. Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan had claimed responsibility, stating a suicide attacker had used a motorcycle to target police officials.

In February 2017, at least 13 people were killed and 85 others injured when a suicide bomber struck a group of police outside the Punjab Assembly on The Mall in Lahore. SSP Operations Zahid Gondal and DIG Traffic Lahore Capt (r) Ahmad Mobin were among those martyred in the attack.