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Deadly blasts hit Pakistani city | Deadly blasts hit Pakistani city |
(about 3 hours later) | |
At least 24 people have been killed and 100 injured in two suspected suicide car bombings in the city of Lahore in eastern Pakistan. | At least 24 people have been killed and 100 injured in two suspected suicide car bombings in the city of Lahore in eastern Pakistan. |
A majority of the victims died in a car bomb attack that hit a federal police building in the heart of the city. | A majority of the victims died in a car bomb attack that hit a federal police building in the heart of the city. |
Another bomb in a suburb killed three, including two children, police say. | Another bomb in a suburb killed three, including two children, police say. |
Shortly after the blasts, the Australian cricket team announced the cancellation of their forthcoming tour of Pakistan over security fears. | Shortly after the blasts, the Australian cricket team announced the cancellation of their forthcoming tour of Pakistan over security fears. |
The police said the first explosion hit the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) at 0925 (0425 GMT) in Lahore. | The police said the first explosion hit the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) at 0925 (0425 GMT) in Lahore. |
It demolished part of the building, where about 250 people work, just as employees were beginning their day. | It demolished part of the building, where about 250 people work, just as employees were beginning their day. |
Acts of terrorism cannot deter government's resolve to fight the scourge with full force President Pervez Musharraf In pictures: Bombs hit Lahore Australia cancel cricket tour | Acts of terrorism cannot deter government's resolve to fight the scourge with full force President Pervez Musharraf In pictures: Bombs hit Lahore Australia cancel cricket tour |
The remainder of the building was evacuated as rescue workers struggled to remove the wounded from the debris. | The remainder of the building was evacuated as rescue workers struggled to remove the wounded from the debris. |
The second, near-simultaneous blast hit an office in a residential district of Lahore several miles away, killing three people, including two children. | The second, near-simultaneous blast hit an office in a residential district of Lahore several miles away, killing three people, including two children. |
President Pervez Musharraf said: "Acts of terrorism cannot deter government's resolve to fight the scourge with full force." | President Pervez Musharraf said: "Acts of terrorism cannot deter government's resolve to fight the scourge with full force." |
Suicide attack probe | Suicide attack probe |
One witness who was inside the police building at the time of the blast described what he saw. | One witness who was inside the police building at the time of the blast described what he saw. |
"There was a huge explosion and I fell down senseless," said FIA employee Ali Ahmed. | "There was a huge explosion and I fell down senseless," said FIA employee Ali Ahmed. |
"For a moment, I didn't know if I was dead or alive. When I finally came to my senses, I was able to locate a window and crawl out." | "For a moment, I didn't know if I was dead or alive. When I finally came to my senses, I was able to locate a window and crawl out." |
It felt like the aftershocks of an earthquake Muhammad RazaOffice worker Eyewitnesses: Lahore blasts | It felt like the aftershocks of an earthquake Muhammad RazaOffice worker Eyewitnesses: Lahore blasts |
A man who works within walking distance of the building described the intensity of the explosion. | A man who works within walking distance of the building described the intensity of the explosion. |
It "was so huge that nearby buildings were shattered and we witnessed huge clouds of smoke and dust rising to the sky", Muhammad Raza told the BBC. | It "was so huge that nearby buildings were shattered and we witnessed huge clouds of smoke and dust rising to the sky", Muhammad Raza told the BBC. |
"It felt like the aftershocks of an earthquake." | "It felt like the aftershocks of an earthquake." |
At least 12 of the dead were FIA officials, says the head of the FIA's investigation wing, Tassaduq Hussain. | At least 12 of the dead were FIA officials, says the head of the FIA's investigation wing, Tassaduq Hussain. |
Many of the injured included children from nearby schools. | Many of the injured included children from nearby schools. |
At the time of the bombing, military officials in the building were investigating a 4 March suicide attack at a nearby naval college, the head of the FIA in Lahore, Mian Manzoor, told the BBC. | At the time of the bombing, military officials in the building were investigating a 4 March suicide attack at a nearby naval college, the head of the FIA in Lahore, Mian Manzoor, told the BBC. |
Sustained campaign | Sustained campaign |
The country has been hit by a wave of suicide bombings in the past year, most against security targets, says the BBC's Barbara Plett in Islamabad. | The country has been hit by a wave of suicide bombings in the past year, most against security targets, says the BBC's Barbara Plett in Islamabad. |
It is rare for groups to claim responsibility for the attacks, but they are usually blamed on pro-Taleban militants and on elements of now banned jihadist groups nurtured by the intelligence agencies. | It is rare for groups to claim responsibility for the attacks, but they are usually blamed on pro-Taleban militants and on elements of now banned jihadist groups nurtured by the intelligence agencies. |
They are believed to be in response to army and police operations against the militants. | They are believed to be in response to army and police operations against the militants. |
Most take place in the north-west of the country near the Afghan border, but many of Pakistan's major cities have also been hit. | Most take place in the north-west of the country near the Afghan border, but many of Pakistan's major cities have also been hit. |
Former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto was killed by a suicide bomber in Rawalpindi in December. | Former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto was killed by a suicide bomber in Rawalpindi in December. |
Until recently Lahore had escaped the violence, but there have been three attacks there now in the last two months. | Until recently Lahore had escaped the violence, but there have been three attacks there now in the last two months. |
Four people died in last week's attack on the naval college. And in January, 19 people were killed in a suicide bombing near the High Court. | Four people died in last week's attack on the naval college. And in January, 19 people were killed in a suicide bombing near the High Court. |
More than 500 people have been killed in the country since the beginning of the year in a campaign of attacks and bombings blamed on Islamist militants. | More than 500 people have been killed in the country since the beginning of the year in a campaign of attacks and bombings blamed on Islamist militants. |
Have you been affected by this story? Are you in Lahore? Send us your comments using the form below: | Have you been affected by this story? Are you in Lahore? Send us your comments using the form below: |
Send your pictures to yourpics@bbc.co.uk, text them to +44 7725 100 100 or you have a large file you can upload here. Read the terms and conditions | Send your pictures to yourpics@bbc.co.uk, text them to +44 7725 100 100 or you have a large file you can upload here. Read the terms and conditions |
At no time should you endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws. | At no time should you endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws. |