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Pakistan blasts death toll rises | Pakistan blasts death toll rises |
(4 days later) | |
The death toll in two bomb blasts at a busy market in the centre of Pakistan's second largest city, Lahore, has risen to 48, police and medics say. | The death toll in two bomb blasts at a busy market in the centre of Pakistan's second largest city, Lahore, has risen to 48, police and medics say. |
The attack, which injured over 100 people, sparked a huge blaze at the city's Moon Market at 2045 (1545 GMT). | The attack, which injured over 100 people, sparked a huge blaze at the city's Moon Market at 2045 (1545 GMT). |
The toll has risen with the death of 12 more people overnight, police said. | The toll has risen with the death of 12 more people overnight, police said. |
The blasts came just hours after a suicide bomber on a rickshaw killed at least 10 people in Peshawar when he blew himself up near the courthouse. | The blasts came just hours after a suicide bomber on a rickshaw killed at least 10 people in Peshawar when he blew himself up near the courthouse. |
Market blaze | Market blaze |
One official said the blasts in Lahore happened in quick succession and that dozens were injured when the blast struck the market, crammed with shoppers and traders. | One official said the blasts in Lahore happened in quick succession and that dozens were injured when the blast struck the market, crammed with shoppers and traders. |
"The fire engulfed a building and shops. There were two blasts with an interval of about 30 seconds," senior city police official Shafiq Ahmad told French news agency AFP. | "The fire engulfed a building and shops. There were two blasts with an interval of about 30 seconds," senior city police official Shafiq Ahmad told French news agency AFP. |
"One was in front of a bank and one was in front of a police station." | "One was in front of a bank and one was in front of a police station." |
The two buildings targeted were about 30m apart - one on the edge of the market and the other at its centre. | The two buildings targeted were about 30m apart - one on the edge of the market and the other at its centre. |
Many of the victims were women and children, the police said. | Many of the victims were women and children, the police said. |
"There was a blast. Then there was another. Nobody knew what was happening. Everybody was running. There was fire everywhere," eyewitness Mohammad Nauman told the Associated Press news agency. | "There was a blast. Then there was another. Nobody knew what was happening. Everybody was running. There was fire everywhere," eyewitness Mohammad Nauman told the Associated Press news agency. |
The BBC's Aleem Maqbool, in Islamabad, says eyewitnesses say that much of the market remains inaccessible. | The BBC's Aleem Maqbool, in Islamabad, says eyewitnesses say that much of the market remains inaccessible. |
Punjab Law Minister Rana Sanaullah said the bombs were apparently remote-controlled devices, AP reports. | Punjab Law Minister Rana Sanaullah said the bombs were apparently remote-controlled devices, AP reports. |
More than 400 people have been killed during a string of attacks mounted by Islamist militants in recent weeks, as an army offensive targeting the Taliban stronghold in the country's north-west continues. | More than 400 people have been killed during a string of attacks mounted by Islamist militants in recent weeks, as an army offensive targeting the Taliban stronghold in the country's north-west continues. |
Close to the country's border with India, Lahore has been hit several times by militants over the past year. | Close to the country's border with India, Lahore has been hit several times by militants over the past year. |
Earlier in the day, a suicide bomber detonated about 6kg (13lb) of explosives outside a courthouse in the north-western city of Peshawar. | Earlier in the day, a suicide bomber detonated about 6kg (13lb) of explosives outside a courthouse in the north-western city of Peshawar. |
The attack killed 10 people - including a policeman - and wounded 44 others. | The attack killed 10 people - including a policeman - and wounded 44 others. |
Hundreds of people have been killed in attacks across Pakistan since the army sent its troops to fight the Taliban in the tribal region of South Waziristan in the autumn. | Hundreds of people have been killed in attacks across Pakistan since the army sent its troops to fight the Taliban in the tribal region of South Waziristan in the autumn. |