TEMPO.CO, Lahore - A large explosion hit a busy vegetable market in the city of Lahore, Pakistan, on Monday, July 24, 2017 and killed at least 25 people and wounded dozens more.
As reported by ABC News, Tuesday, July 25, 2017, Taliban radical groups claimed responsibility for the attack in the second largest city in Pakistan, Lahore. This was revealed by a spokesman for the Pakistani Taliban, Muhammad Khurassani in a message to the media.
A preliminary police investigation showed the blast was a suicide attack.
"Based on our preliminary findings, this was the act of a suicide bomber, who used a motorcycle," said Deputy Chief of Police Haider Ashraf told reporters in Lahore.
The blast took place on a crowded main street in southern Lahore. The explosion was so large to the extent that it broke glass in the surrounding buildings.
City Commissioner Abdullah Khan Sumbul said the blast made the police a target.
Lahore Police spokesman Syed Hammad Shah said at least 25 people were killed and 52 wounded.
Senior government official Ahmad Syed Ahmad also confirmed the death toll, although he mentions the number of injured people there are 35 people.
Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan said most of the victims were police officers, but could not confirm the source of the explosion.
The area is packed with policemen in charge of disciplining traders in the market, whose stalls spill over the side of the road.
But Pakistan Provincial Law Minister Rana Sanaullah said the Taliban blast appeared to target the vegetable market, which is full of buyers.
In April, a suicide bomber targeted a Pakistani census team that killed six people and wounded 18 others.
After a string of attacks since February in Lahore, the Pakistani military has launched a massive operation to exterminate the Taliban.
REUTERS | ABC | SITA PLANASARI AQUADINI