Suicide bomber hits Lahore cops

LAHORE - Nine people including two police officials were killed while 35 others including a dozen cops got injured when a suicide bomber blew himself up at Moon Market in front of Iqbal Town police station here late on Wednesday night, witnesses, rescue 1122 and police said.

The bomber came on foot and targeted the policemen deployed at the Moon Market at 10.55 pm, one of the busiest places in City. The deceased police officials were identified as Sub-Inspector Jafar Baloch and Constable Muhammad Arif.

Jinnah Hospital MS Dr Zahid Pervaiz told TheNation that emergency department had received four bodies and 20 injured including 10 cops. Deputy Administrator Shaikh Zayed Hospital Dr Sohail said that two bodies had been received while more than a dozen injured mostly policemen were also received at the emergency department.

DIG Investigation Mushtaq Sukhera confirmed that seven people including two policemen had been killed while 16 including 12 policemen got injured in the incident. He further said that the injured policemen were in critical condition. He also confirmed that four civilians were severally injured.

Contrary to police claim that seven persons had lost their lives in the blast, Edhi spokesman, however, said that the death toll was nine.