Bomb attack targets security agency in eastern Pakistani city

In the latest in a series of attacks targeting Pakistani security and law enforcement agencies, a bomb attack near a security agency in the eastern city of Multan killed at least 12 people and injured 18 others, according to police officials.

AFP - A massive car bomb ripped through an army building in Pakistan's eastern Multan city on Tuesday, killing at least 12 people in the second attack in Punjab province in two days, officials said.
   
Eighteen people were also wounded in the explosion -- which struck in Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani's hometown -- and police and rescue services rushed to the scene in the west of the historic city.
   
There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the blast, but government officials have blamed a wave of recent bombings on Taliban rebels avenging a military offensive targeting northwest extremist strongholds.
   
"We have recovered 12 dead bodies and more than 18 injured. Most of the dead are civilians," emergency services official Kaleem Ullah told AFP.
   
"There were also some security men among the dead. This building belongs to the army. It's badly damaged," he said from the blast site.
   
Multan's police chief Saood Aziz told AFP that the explosives were hidden in a small pick-up truck, but said they were still investigating whether the bomb was planted or if a suicide attacker had rammed the building.
   
The explosions hit in an area where military, security and intelligence services keep offices and barracks, although it was not clear what the exact target of the car bombing was.
   
Witnesses and police on the scene said the blast was "huge", while some reported gunfire ahead of the explosion.
   
"Six attackers started firing before the blast. When we came out they hurled grenades and all of a sudden there was a huge explosion," said injured security guard Mukhtar Ahmad from his hospital bed.
   
"There was dark and dust and smoke everywhere. I do not know what happened after the blast. I was injured and fell on the ground and was trapped in the debris."
   
Police officials were unable to confirm the number of attackers.
   
Multan is in Punjab province, which is still reeling from twin bomb blasts in its capital Lahore on Monday that killed at least 49 people and wounded 150 more at a busy market in the centre of the city.
   
Multan is about 340 kilometres southwest of Lahore, and is Pakistan's fifth most populous city.

Date created : 2009-12-08