Multan blast: Suspect taken into police custody

Police pick up suspect allegedly responsible for the bomb that targeted a police building in Multan.

MULTAN: Police took into custody a man they suspected was responsible for the bomb that targeted a police building in Multan on Sunday.

10 people were injured in the incident, out of which four are police officials.

CPO Multan Amir Zulfikar denied that any policemen had died in the blast. Earlier, hospital authorities reported that three critically wounded policemen had died.

Express 24/7 correspondent Owais Jafri reported that the man who was taken into police custody was under 25 years old and sported a long beard.

Jafri reported that according to the police, the 10kg bomb was planted in the back of the police building in an area used for confiscated items. The bomb was reportedly planted on a motorcycle in the storage area.

Security arrangements in this area were poor, and policemen's motorcycles had been stolen from there last week, said Jafri. He added that the cars present at the venue were tied with chains to secure them.

DCO Zahid Akhtar Zaman said it cannot be confirmed at present if it was suicide attack.

The civil defence officer said 8-10 kg of explosives were used in the attack.

The names of the three severely injured policemen are Khadim Hussain, Qaiser Abbad and Faisal Shahzad.

Two other people who were injured were given emergency medical treatment on the spot.