WAGAH BORDER (PAKISTAN): At least 52 Pakistani, including children and security personnel, were killed and about 200 others injured in a powerful suicide blast in Pakistan at Wagah today, minutes after the popular flag- lowering ceremony at the main Indo-Pak land border crossing. Officials said that it was suicide attack and at least 52 people had been killed and 200 had sustained injuries.
"A large number of people were returning after watching Rangers flag ceremony at Wagah border when a suicide bomber blew himself up near one of the exit gates," Inspector General Police of Punjab Police Mushtaq Sukhera said. He said three Pakistan Rangers personnel were also among the dead.
To a question about security arrangements, Sukhera said, "The Rangers had made stringent security measures but it was difficult to check suicide bomber".
The al-Qaeda affiliated group Jandullah has claimed responsibility for the attack, according to a news report.
Huge crowds gather every evening at the crossing, 22 kilometres from Lahore, to watch a "lowering of the flags" ceremony and witness the energetic display of military pageantry that accompanies the formal closing of the border post which soldiers from both countries have conducted for decades.
Earlier reports had said it could be a cylinder blast. In the wake of Muharram, the police had made strict security measures.
"We had reports that some banned outfits might target Shias, religious personalities, public processions and important buildings," Sukhera said.
He said, "Our teams have confirmed that it was a suicide blast". The IG said that the suicide bomber was stopped at the gate of the parade ground at the border and detonated the bomb right when people gathered near the gate.
"Up to five kilogrammes of explosive material was used in the blast," Sukhera said.
"The bomb exploded outside a restaurant near a Pakistani paramilitary soldiers' checkpoint at Wagah border," he added. "People were returning after watching the parade at Wagah border when the blast took place. Ball bearings were found at the scene," another police official said.
The Indian side of the main border crossing between Pakistan and India was not affected by a suicide bomb that killed at least 50 people on the Pakistani side, border security authorities said.
Ashok Kumar, inspector general of Border Security Force, said the blast took place 500 meters from the Wagah border at about 6:15 PM local time.
"Our side is safe, we are alert, have increased our security, we are in constant touch with district officials and state police," Kumar said.
Source: economictimes.indiatimes.com/
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