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Huge blast rocks Pakistani city Huge blast rocks Pakistani city
(20 minutes later)
A powerful car bomb outside the main police station in the Pakistani city of Lahore has killed at least 23 people and injured scores, police say. A suicide car bomber has attacked police headquarters in the Pakistani city of Lahore, killing at least 23 people and injuring 200, police say.
The blast on the Mall Road destroyed a police emergency response building and TV stations are showing a collapsed building and gutted vehicles. The blast destroyed a police emergency response building, gutting vehicles outside, and an office of the ISI intelligence service was also damaged.
A car driven by a suspected suicide bomber smashed through a barrier and exploded, officials said. It is feared the death toll may rise further as casualties are brought out from beneath the rubble.
An attack on police in Lahore in March was claimed by Taliban militants. Attacks on Pakistan's second-largest city have been blamed on the Taliban.
Pakistan's army has been battling the insurgents in their stronghold in the Swat valley, in the north-west, and there have been fears of Taliban retaliation. Pakistan's army has been battling the insurgents in their stronghold in the Swat valley, in the north-west, and there have been fears of Taliban retaliation, the BBC's Barbara Plett reports.
Bulldozers
A regional health official put the death toll at 30, although this figure is unconfirmed.
There are reports of gunshots just after the explosion and police commandos could be seen arresting a man near the scene.
Rescue workers were seen clambering over a pile of concrete which was all that remained of the emergency response headquarters.
They were able to drag out several of the injured. Semi-conscious policemen could be seen being carried out in blood-stained uniforms.
Debris was scattered on the road outside. Officials were seen rushing towards the buildings to cordon off the area.
The blast also destroyed several cars parked or standing on the main Mall road opposite to the police building.
Bulldozers and other heavy lifting equipment were brought in as many people were feared to be trapped under the debris.
Altercations also took place between members of the media and security personnel as the former tried to get in to the site of the blast.
'Surreal scene''Surreal scene'
A regional health official put the death toll at 30 and the number of injured at 116, although these figures are unconfirmed. Zubair, a BBC News website reader in Lahore, described hearing the explosion: "I was sitting in my office on Lawrence Road [about 500m from the site] when a huge explosion rocked our entire building.
Police commandos were seen arresting a man after the explosion.
The blast was powerful enough to shear walls off buildings in the main business district of Lahore.
Several high-security buildings, including offices of the local police chief and the Inter-Services Intelligence service (ISI) are in the area, and the ISI building was damaged.
Zubair, a BBC News website reader in Lahore, described hearing the explosion:
"I was sitting in my office on Lawrence Road [about 500m from the site] when a huge explosion rocked our entire building.
"Glass windows shattered to pieces and the ceiling came down on the floor. I ran outside the building to nearby Jinnah Garden. I could hear gunfire which lasted for about 10 minutes and then I saw ambulance and police rushed to the scene.""Glass windows shattered to pieces and the ceiling came down on the floor. I ran outside the building to nearby Jinnah Garden. I could hear gunfire which lasted for about 10 minutes and then I saw ambulance and police rushed to the scene."
Matthias Gattermeier, an Austrian reader also in Lahore, said his office building had been shaken so hard he thought it would collapse.Matthias Gattermeier, an Austrian reader also in Lahore, said his office building had been shaken so hard he thought it would collapse.
"We first thought the explosion happened far closer by, but the blast was just so massive," he said."We first thought the explosion happened far closer by, but the blast was just so massive," he said.
"I ran out of the building and saw a surreal huge ring of white smoke rise into air. Within minutes police and military blocked the streets. Disaster units and emergency are going in and out in every minute. The streets are full of people.""I ran out of the building and saw a surreal huge ring of white smoke rise into air. Within minutes police and military blocked the streets. Disaster units and emergency are going in and out in every minute. The streets are full of people."
Lahore, Pakistan's second-largest city, has seen bomb attacks with increasing frequency.Lahore, Pakistan's second-largest city, has seen bomb attacks with increasing frequency.
Weeks before a police college was attacked in March, with eight people killed, militants attacked the Sri Lanka cricket team in the city, killing six police guards.Weeks before a police college was attacked in March, with eight people killed, militants attacked the Sri Lanka cricket team in the city, killing six police guards.
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