According to rescue officers, 57 others were injured in the attack that was specifically targetting the police
Pakistani rescue workers move the body of a victim at the site of an explosion. Pics/AFP
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At least 26 people, including policemen, were killed and 57 others injured yesterday when a suspected suicide bomber targeted police personnel deployed near residence-cum-office of Pakistan's Punjab province chief minister Shahbaz Sharif in Lahore.
"Police and Lahore Development Authority officials were busy in removing encroachments outside the Arfa Karim Tower, located near the CM's Model Town residence, when a powerful blast took place," said Rescue 1122's Deeba Shahnaz. Lahore police chief Capt (R) Amin Wains confirmed that it was a suicide blast and the "target was police".
The CM, who is also the brother of PM Nawaz Sharif, was in a meeting at his office when the blast took place. "No words can express the grief which grips my heart right now. Blast destroyed many families, but terrorists can never destroy our resolve," Sharif said.
The government confirmed that 26 people were killed and and 57 others injured. One sub-inspector, 1 ASI and 6 constables were among dead, it added. Rescue teams shifted the injured to hospital. Emergency was declared in city hospitals.
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