The blasts occurred near a van stop shortly before the Juma prayers in an interval of 15 seconds. "They were on foot and their target was army vehicles," said police official Chaudhry Mohammad Shafiq. The bomb disposal squad confirmed that at least 10-kg explosive material was used by each suicide attacker. There were civilian homes, shops and restaurants in the vicinity of the attack.
"The second blast took place near a military vehicle. "There were scenes of destruction in nearby restaurants and shops while vehicles caught fire and were damaged severely. Security officials said at least six soldiers were among those killed in the twin blasts.
Inspector General Police Punjab Tariq Salim Dogar after visiting the blast site said: "We have collected concrete technical evidence, which will help identify the attackers. He said such solid evidence has not been found from any blast site in the past. Both the attackers were on foot and the heads of both attackers have been found," he added.
SSP Operations Muhammad Shafiq said: "There were two suicide bombers who attacked two military vehicles within a span of 15 seconds." Rescuers and volunteers rushed to the scene and shifted the injured and the dead to Fauji Foundation Hospital, CMH, Jinnah Hospital, General Hospital and Services Hospital. The remains of suicide bombers were sent to forensic laboratories for tests.
Emergency has been declared in General Children Hospital and Services Hospitals and other hospitals of the city. Security forces have cordoned off the area and lunched a search operation and arrested a suspect from the scene. Among others, Chief Minister Mian Shahbaz Sharif, provincial ministers Mujtaba Shuja, Rana Sanaullah and Dost Muhammad Khosa visited hospitals. While corps commander Lahore Ijaz Bakshi sent bouquet for the injured while IG CCPO, SSP Investigation and DCO Lahore visited the scene.
Meanwhile, President Asif Zardari strongly condemned the blast and directed the authorities to arrange best medical care for the wounded. He offered condolences to the families of those who lost their lives in the dastardly terrorist acts. Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani also condemned the blast and directed the law enforcement agencies to increase vigilance in order to protect the lives of citizens.
APP adds: As many as eight soldiers embraced shahadat and 12 were injured in a twin suicide blast today at RA Bazaar here on Friday. According to ISPR, a suicide bomber blew himself up in front of a mosque at RA Bazaar when Army personnel deployed on protection duties were patrolling the area. A Quick Response Team of Garrison Security Force rushed to the site within two minutes of the blast which was busy in evacuation of victims as the second suicide bomber blew himself up causing loss of innocent lives and injuring many.