Police registers suicide blast FIR

Officials believe around 10-12kgs of explosive material was used in the blast

LAHORE: A First Information Report (FIR) of the suicide blast at Old Kot Lakhpat Fruit and Vegetable Market on Ferozepur Road was registered at the CTD police station on Monday evening.

The case has been registered on the complaint of CTD Police Station SHO Abid Baig. Clauses of terrorism, murder, attempt to murder and others have been included in the report which was filed against unidentified terrorists and their unidentified facilitators. A copy of the FIR, available with The Express Tribune, states police and civil officials of different departments were performing their duty in front of the old fruit and vegetable market in Kot Lakhpat on main Ferozepur Road when three unidentified suspects appeared at the scene.



Two of them fled at around 3:55 pm, leaving the third behind to detonate his explosives near police officials and civilians. The report indicates the blast was so powerful that the windowpanes of nearby building shattered.

Nine policemen, including Sub-Inspector Muhammad Riaz, ASI Faisal, constables Majid, Muazam Ali, Abid, Ali Raza, Murtaza, Umair Ghani, Faisal Rasheed and citizens Rasool Iqrar Muhammad, Ilyas Bhatti, Muhammad Ramzan, Khurram Nazir, Itrat, Huma Shahzadi and 10 others were killed on the spot. Dozens more were left injured.

A number of motorcycles and other vehicles were also damaged in the explosion. Initial investigation suggests the suicide bomber reached the scene on a motorcycle. Police have collected all evidence and cleared the crime scene after 21 hours. They believe around 10-12 kilogrammes of explosive material was used in the blast.

However, investigators are still looking for clues on how the suicide attacker reached the spot. Police officials also revealed that the head of the suicide bomber was found from the crime scene. Police have collected body parts from the spot and sent them to the Punjab Forensic Laboratory for DNA testing and other forensic analysis.



Police have also recorded the statements of eyewitnesses and are investigating the incident from different angles. Officials believe the suicide bomber was between 16 and 18 years old and policemen were his target. The suspect came on a motorcycle and rammed his vehicle into a police checkpoint.

Meanwhile, Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) has claimed responsibility for the blast and released a picture of the suicide bomber.

 

Published in The Express Tribune, July 26^th, 2017.