Pakistan: 3 dead, 20 injured in blast at Lahore

In Pakistan,at least  three people and 20 other injure in blast in beetal Mandi in Anarkali area of Lahore on Thursday. The place where the blast took place is known for selling Indian commodities, police said. Lahore police spokesperson Rana Arif confirmed the death of three people in the blast that shattered windows of nearby shops and buildings, Dawn newspaper reported. "We are ascertaining the nature of blast. Over 20 people have been injured in blast and shifted to hospitals," Deputy Inspector General Police Operation Dr Mohammad Abid told reporters at the site of the blast.

Abid did not rule out the possibility of a time device implanted in a motorcycle or placed at the market. "The crater at the blast site indicated the possibility of a time device. However, at this stage we can't confirm this," he said. A good number of motorcycles and vendors' stalls were also damaged on the blast. No group has claimed responsibility for the blast so far. Lahore Deputy Commissioner Umer Sher Chattha, meanwhile, said that the blast took place in the last lane of Anarkali bazaar, close to Circular Road. He said the explosive material was planted in a motorcycle which was parked outside a bank in the area.