August 2017 Lahore explosion

August 2017 Lahore bombing
Part of War in North-West Pakistan
Band Road
Band Road (Lahore)
Band Road
Band Road (Punjab, Pakistan)
Band Road
Band Road (Pakistan)
Location Band Road, Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan
Coordinates 31°32′9.74″N 74°16′34.87″E / 31.5360389°N 74.2763528°E / 31.5360389; 74.2763528
Date August 7, 2017
21:00 (PKT)
Attack type
 Truck bombing
Weapons Explosive material
Deaths 2
Non-fatal injuries
 35
Suspected perpetrator
 Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan
No. of participants
 1
Motive Islamic Extremism

On 7 August 2017, a truck carrying explosive material accidentally went off at Band Road in Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan. As a result of explosion, two people were killed while 35 people were wounded. Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan is suspected to have perpetrated the attack.

Background

Lahore have been the victim of many terrorist incidents in 2017. The current attack came two weeks after a suicide bombing that claimed 26 lives,[1] followed by a blast targeting a census team in April[2] and a bombing that killed 13 people in February.[3]

Intelligence before the attack

According to a news article published in Daily Dunya on 1st August, law enforcement agencies had diligently informed the Inspector General of the Punjab police, Arif Nawaz about the details and specific locations of the highly possible terror attacks.

The agencies passed on information that there were several facilitators and groups of banned outfits near fruit markets who were actively transporting explosive materials, weapons, suicide jackets and timing devices via trucks and secretly occupying several buildings where they plan terror activities, the report stated.

Warning the police officials, the agencies said that the checkpoints near the fruit markets were not doing enough to ensure safety and security. The agencies directed them to carry out intelligence-based and combing operations in and around the target areas so that those who want to carry out the attacks in Punjab cannot do so easily.[4]

Explosion

At around 20:50 UTC+5:00, a truck loaded with fruit, accidentally exploded, killing two and injuring 35 people.[5] Injuries were caused by debris of the building that collapsed as a result of explosion. More than 100 vehicles near the explosion were also damaged. The roof of a nearby school collapsed.[6] The explosion caused damage to an electrical transformer and consequently the electrical supply was suspended and the area of the explosion was darkened. People initially thought that the electrical transformer had exploded.[5] The explosion left a 10-foot crater on the ground. Parts of the truck were found several hundred meters away from the site of the explosion.[7]

Aftermath

As the explosion occurred about 300 meters away from Rescue 1122's headquarter, Rescue 112 teams began to take the injured to Mian Munshi Hospital and Moyo Hospital. Security officials cordoned off the area. The Bomb Disposal Squad reached the site and discovered that 80 kilograms of explosive material was used.[8]

Following the attack, the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) teams began their search operation. A few hours after the attack, a clash erupted between 7 terrorists and the CTD team in which 4 terrorists were shot dead while 3 others managed to flee in the dark. The terrorists were identified as Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan's militants.[9]

Reactions

CM Punjab, Shehbaz Sharif condemned the attack and directed the authorities to investigate the explosion.[10]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "26 killed in blast near Lahore's Ferozepur Road". Dawn. 24 July 2017. Retrieved 8 August 2017.
  2. ↑ Waseem, Riaz (5 April 2017). "5 armed forces personnel slain in Lahore blast targeting census team". Dawn. Retrieved 8 August 2017.
  3. ↑ Gabol, Imran (13 February 2017). "Senior police officers among 13 killed as suicide bomber strikes Lahore". Dawn. Retrieved 8 August 2017.
  4. ↑ Rao, Hamza (7 August 2017). "Lahore blast: Agencies had informed IG Punjab about possible terror attack in fruit market". Daily Pakistan. Retrieved 8 August 2017.
  5. 1 2 Muhammad, Shehzad (7 August 2017). "Bomb rips through fruit truck in Lahore; 45 injured". The Express Tribune. Retrieved 8 August 2017.
  6. ↑ Imran, Gabol (7 August 2017). "Blast on Lahore's Outfall Road leaves 46 injured". Dawn. Retrieved 8 August 2017.
  7. ↑ "Truck blast terrifies Lahore". The Nation. 7 August 2017. Retrieved 8 August 2017.
  8. ↑ "30 injured in blast near Lahore's Band Road". Daily Pakistan. 7 August 2017. Retrieved 8 August 2017.
  9. ↑ "Lahore blast: Four terrorists killed in CTD raid". Samaa TV. 7 August 2017. Retrieved 8 August 2017.
  10. ↑ "One killed, 39 wounded in truck bomb blast in Lahore". Dunya News. 7 August 2017. Retrieved 8 August 2017.
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