NOV 2014: Wagah Border attack

LAHORE:

On November 2, a suicide bombing at Wahga Border left 60 people dead.

Initially, there were reports that a gas cylinder had exploded at a restaurant where families had gathered after the flag-lowering ceremony at the border at around 6 pm. Later, it became apparent that civilians had been targeted in a terrorist attack.

One family lost seven members in the gruesome attack.

The Rangers director general and a number of senior police officials were quick to reach the site and cordoned it off.



Officials said the attack had been carefully planned. The bomber had stood just far enough from a picket to avoid a body search.

It was learnt that the attackers had brought two suicide jackets to Wahga Border; one claimed the lives of 60 people, the other was found undetonated near the site of explosion the next day. Police suspected that the vests were transported in one of the trucks arriving at the NLC Yard.

A Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan spokesman had claimed the attack, calling it the first in a series of attacks in retaliation for the military operation in North Waziristan.

Read the full year-in review here.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 31^st, 2014.