Fifteen Injured in Powerful Bomb Explosion in Pakistan
LAHORE, Pakistan, Aug 20 (News Agencies) - A powerful bomb exploded in a crowded commercial district of the eastern Pakistani city of Lahore Monday, injuring at least 15 people in what police described as a "terrorist" attack.
The bomb, a timed device carrying 2.2 pounds of explosive, was wrapped in a shopping bag near a motorbike parking lot in the heart of the Rang Mahal district, police chief Javed Noor said.
"It was a terrorist activity meant to create widespread panic," he said.
Hospital officials said they were treating 15 people with serious wounds, mostly caused by shrapnel.
"We have admitted 11. Three people are in critical condition," doctor Azhar Masood Bhatti of Mayo Hospital said.
"One of the wounded men lost both legs and is in a very serious condition."
Residents said people fled in panic after the bomb exploded in the narrow lanes of the busy shopping area.
The explosion in the congested market area shattered showcases in several shops and cosmetics and perfume bottles flew in different directions, a resident said, adding that flying glass caused most of the casualties.
A new wave of bomb blasts has gripped the country's populous Punjab province in recent weeks.
Monday's bombing came three days after a bomb exploded in the industrial city of Gujranwala, in which a police constable was killed and two others were injured.
Another three people died in southwestern Quetta on the eve of the country's 54th independence anniversary last week, while the worst attack this year was in the Punjab city of Gujrat on August 11th where seven people were killed.
So far this year, some 60 bombs have exploded across the country killing more 19 people and injuring around 100 others.
No group has claimed responsibility for the bombings, but the government has blamed Indian intelligence agents.
India denies the charges and blames Pakistan for what it calls "cross-border terrorism" in Kashmir, a disputed Himalayan state where a Muslim uprising against Indian rule has raged since 1989.
