At Least 45 Killed, Up to 100 Wounded in Pakistan-India Border Suicide Bomb

katzmeow · #1 ● 11-02-2014, 11:30 PM

A suicide bomber is likely to be responsible for an explosion on the Pakistani-Indian border that killed at least 45 people on Sunday, a senior police officer says.
At least 45 people have been killed after a suicide bomber blew himself up outside a restaurant on the Pakistani-Indian border, authorities say.
The blast came after the end of the ceremony to close the Wagah border gate near the eastern city of Lahore.
"It appears to have been a suicide attack. At least 45 people have been killed, two Rangers officials are among the dead and women and children were also killed," said Mushtaq Sukhera, the Punjab provincial police chief.
Lahore police chief Amin Wains also confirmed it was a suicide attack
"People were returning after watching the parade at Wagah border when the blast took place. Ball bearings were found at the scene," he said.
The Pakistani Taliban has claimed responsibility for the attack, which took place at 6:15pm local time on the Pakistani side of the border.
"We claim the Lahore suicide attack," Taliban senior commander Gilamn Mehsud said.
The attack was carried out in response to the Pakistani army's operation against Islamist militants in the tribal areas straddling the Afghan border, he said.
Police said they were investigating the attack, and a doctor said up to 70 people were wounded.
Border area popular with tourists
Huge crowds gather on both sides at Wagah each sunset to see the display of military pageantry that accompanies the formal closing of the border post.
"I was sitting in my office near the border when I heard the blast," a Pakistani intelligence source told Reuters.
"I rushed to the scene and saw scattered bodies, injured men, women and children and smashed cars."
Media reports earlier said the explosion was caused by a gas cylinder.
The Indian side of the border crossing was not affected by the blast, security authorities said.
"Our side is safe, we are alert, have increased our security, we are in constant touch with district officials and state police," said Ashok Kumar, inspector general of India's Border Security Force.
India and Pakistan have fought three wars and remain locked in a bitter conflict over the region of Kashmir, which both sides claim.
India accuses Pakistan of sponsoring jihadist groups in the region and encouraging them to make inroads into Indian territory to stage attacks against Indian forces, a charge Pakistan denies.