35 killed in Lahore triple blasts (Second Lead)

LAHORE - At least 35 people were killed and 175 injured in three suicide blasts that rocked the Data Darbar shrine in Lahore Thursday night, police said.

Two attackers blew themselves up inside the shrine while the third one outside it, Sajjad Bhutta, Lahore district coordination officer, and Commissioner Khushro Pervez were quoted as saying by Geo TV.

One blast took place inside the shrine while another went off in front of the main gate and the third took place in the courtyard, Xinhua reported.

Thursday is a day at the shrine where crowds gather at night, police said. Due to the presence of a large number of people, the bombers may have managed to get through, despite tight security, they said.

Data Darbar has five doors, out of which four were closed. The only door kept open had a body scanner installed and it is still unknown how the bombers made their way inside the shrine, police said.

Most of the injured were shifted to Mayo Hospital, where an emergency has been declared, while some were taken to Services Hospital and Mehran Hospital.

Relief and rescue operations are under way at the blast site, while police have cordoned off the area.

A hand grenade and a dismembered head of a suspected suicide bomber were found inside the shrine, police said.

The three suicide bombers were in their early 20s and each of them carried a bomb jacket containing about 10 kg of explosives.

No group has, so far, claimed responsibility for the attack.