Biodun.BBC: BREAKING: Lahore bomb blast 'kills six'

Thursday, February 23, 2017

Media captionAftermath of deadly Lahore bomb blast

At least six people have been killed in a bomb attack in the Pakistani city of Lahore, officials say.

The blast ripped through a shopping area, wounding another 30 people.

Pakistan has been hit by a wave of bombings claimed by Islamist militant groups in recent days. There was no immediate claim for the latest attack.

Police now say 90 people were killed in an attack at a shrine in the town of Sehwan last week which was claimed by the so-called Islamic State (IS).

In response, Pakistan launched a security crackdown, which included closing border crossings with Afghanistan, and claims it killed 100 militants.

Thursday's attack happened in Lahore's Defence Housing Authority suburb. Television footage showed buildings and cars damaged by the blast.

Initial reports suggested it was caused by an electricity generator exploding but police later said they believed it was a bomb.

Last week a Taliban faction said it carried out a bomb attack in Lahore, which killed 13 people and wounded more than 80.

Asia