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March 2010 Lahore bombings

The March 2010 Lahore bombings were three separate, but related, bomb attacks in the Pakistani city of Lahore on 8 and 12 March 2010. Lahore, with a population of six million, is Pakistan's second largest city, and the capital of the Punjab province. After several attacks in Lahore in 2009, these were the first major incidents in the city in 2010.[3] The 12 March bombings are the deadliest attacks in Pakistan to date in 2010.[4]

March 2010 Lahore bombings
LocationLahore, Pakistan
Date12 March 2010
0810 8 March – 1300 12 March [1] (UTC+5)
Deaths72+[2]
Injured190+

8 March

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The 8 March 2010 Lahore bombing was a suicide bombing in Lahore, Pakistan that killed 13 people and injured 90.[5]

Around 0810 PKT, an individual[6] drove a vehicle carrying a large amount of explosives into the Federal Investigation Agency's office in the Model Town district of Lahore.[7] The building collapsed due to the damage it sustained.[8] The bomb was 1,100 pounds (500 kg) in size,[9] powerful enough to create a crater 12 feet (3.7 m) deep,[10] and injure someone in a house 300 m away from the detonation.[11]

The building had previously been attacked on 15 October 2009, in an incident that killed four people.[12]

Reaction

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Pakistani officials have reportedly blamed al-Qaeda and the Taliban for the incident.[13] Rehman Malik, Pakistan's Interior Minister, said that while more attacks by the Taliban were expected, they were "desperate measures by a desperate organization".[14]

Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif condemned the attacks and said the victims would be compensated.[15]

A spokesperson for the Taliban in Pakistan claimed the attack was retribution for recent attacks by the Pakistani military and the United States Central Intelligence Agency on tribal areas; and said "We have 2,800 to 3,000 more suicide bombers ... We will target all government places, buildings and offices,"[16] More specifically they said it was to avenge the death of Qari Zafar.[17]

India denied involvement in the attacks, following allegations by several Pakistani media sources. “We categorically reject, once again, the allegations of India's involvement in such acts or activities. The government has reiterated, on several occasions and at the highest level, that India has no interest in destabilizing Pakistan,” the Indian Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement. The ministry said it was unfortunate that by repeating such unfounded and unsubstantiated allegations, officials in responsible positions in the government of Pakistan put a strain on the bilateral relationship, instead of concentrating on dismantling the infrastructure of terrorism directed against India and adversely impacting Pakistan itself[18]

United States Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, strongly condemned the blast and expressed sympathy to victims stating that "The coordinated multiple attacks in Lahore demonstrate the suffering that violent extremist elements are willing to inflict on the people of Pakistan – people who only wish to go about their daily lives in peace."[19][20]

12 March

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The 12 March 2010 Lahore bombings were a series of bombings in Lahore.[21] It was the second attack in Lahore that week, following a bomb explosion at an intelligence headquarters on 8 March 2010.[citation needed]

Two men on foot[22] and wearing vests carrying explosives detonated bombs near the Royal Artillery Bazaar.[23] One man detonated his vest first, followed by the other ten to fifteen seconds later.[1] It was speculated that the intended target was a military convoy in the area at the time.[24][25][26] The blasts wounded about 100 people, mostly civilians, and killed at least 59,[27][28] of which ten were soldiers.[29] Local Police officials have said that the death toll is likely to rise.[25] Following the bombings, military reinforcements took control of the area, preventing even news media from entering.[24]

In the late afternoon, five more bombs were detonated in an Iqbal Town market, but their main consequence was panic.[30] Some windows were broken, and a car was damaged, and three injuries were reported.[22][31]

Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan, the same group responsible for the 8 March bombing, has claimed responsibility for these attacks, as well.[32] Lashkar-e-Jhangvi has also claimed responsibility for the 12 March attack.[27]

Seizure of material

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On 15 March 2010, police seized 3,000 pounds (1,400 kg) of explosives in a raid on an empty shop in Lahore.[33] Also seized were grenades, suicide bomb vests and ammunition. The shop owner was arrested.[34]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b Shah, Saeed (12 March 2010). "Lahore bombing is Pakistan's bloodiest this year". The Guardian. London, UK. Retrieved 12 March 2010.
  2. ^ "Toll in Lahore suicide attacks rises to 57". IBNLive. March 13, 2010. Archived from the original on July 11, 2012. Retrieved March 13, 2010.
  3. ^ Qayum, Khalid; Anwar Shakir (8 March 2010). "Lahore Suicide Bombing Kills 12 People in Pakistan". BusinessWeek. Bloomberg. Archived from the original on March 16, 2010. Retrieved 9 March 2010.
  4. ^ Shah, Saeed (12 March 2010). "Suicide bombers strike Pakistani market, killing at least 43". The Miami Herald. McClatchy Newspapers. Retrieved 12 March 2010. [dead link‍]
  5. ^ Khan, Omer Farooq (8 March 2010). "Terror revisits Lahore; 13 dead, 75 hurt". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 11 August 2011. Retrieved 8 March 2010.
  6. ^ Bokhari, Farhan (9 March 2010). "Taliban kills 13 in bomb attack on Lahore police". Financial Times. Financial Times Ltd. Retrieved 9 March 2010.
  7. ^ "Lahore car bomb blast kills 11, injures 45". One India. Retrieved 8 March 2010.
  8. ^ "Pakistan suicide bomb attack kills 13 in Lahore". BBC News. 8 March 2010. Retrieved 8 March 2010.
  9. ^ Rodriguez, Alex; Aoun Sahi (8 March 2010). "Suicide car bomber strikes Pakistani intelligence unit". The Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 9 March 2010.
  10. ^ Gilliani, Waqar (8 March 2010). "Pakistan Government Site Is Attacked". The New York Times. Retrieved 9 March 2010.
  11. ^ Mir, Amir (9 March 2010). "Suicide attack on Lahore police intelligence unit kills 15". dnaindia.com. Diligent Media Corporation. Retrieved 9 March 2010.
  12. ^ Mehsud, Rehmat; Tom Wright (8 March 2010). "Deadly Blast Rocks Lahore". The Wall Street Journal. Dow Jones and Company. Retrieved 9 March 2010.
  13. ^ Gul, Ayaz (8 March 2010). "Pakistan's Taliban Claims Responsibility for Deadly Suicide Attack in Lahore". Voice of America News. Retrieved 8 March 2010.
  14. ^ Ahmad, Imtiaz (9 March 2010). "Lahore suicide attack kills 13, Taliban claims responsibility". The Hindustan Times. Archived from the original on 5 June 2011. Retrieved 8 March 2010.
  15. ^ "Leading News Resource of Pakistan". Daily Times. 2010-03-10. Archived from the original on 2011-06-06. Retrieved 2010-03-14.
  16. ^ Page, Jeremy (9 March 2010). "Pakistani Taleban kill at least 13 after suicide car bombing in Lahore". The Times. London, UK. Retrieved 9 March 2010.[dead link‍]
  17. ^ "TTP avenged Qari Zafar's death through SIA bomb attack". Sify. 2010-03-09. Archived from the original on 2011-08-11. Retrieved 2010-03-14.
  18. ^ India rejects charge of involvement in Lahore blasts - The Hindu
  19. ^ "Lahore bombings: Clinton expresses sympathy". The Hindu. March 13, 2010. Archived from the original on July 13, 2012. Retrieved March 13, 2010.
  20. ^ "US condemns Lahore blasts". DNA India. March 13, 2010. Retrieved March 13, 2010.
  21. ^ "Pakistan blasts kill 45". ABC. Retrieved 12 March 2010.
  22. ^ a b Dogar, Babar; Tim Sullivan (12 March 2010). "Twin suicide bombs kill 43 in Pakistani city". Associated Press. Archived from the original on March 15, 2010. Retrieved 12 March 2010.
  23. ^ Bokhari, Farhan (12 March 2010). "Fresh Lahore suicide blasts kill 53". The Financial Times. Retrieved 12 March 2010.
  24. ^ a b Gillani, Waqar (12 March 2010). "Twin Suicide Attacks Hit Military Sites in Pakistan". The New York Times. Retrieved 12 March 2010.
  25. ^ a b Wright, Tom (12 March 2010). "Suicide Bombs Kill 40 in Lahore". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 12 March 2010.
  26. ^ Khalid Qayum and Farhan Sharif (12 March 2010). "Bombings Kill 53 in Pakistan's Lahore as Lull in Attacks Ends". Bloomberg. Retrieved 12 March 2010.
  27. ^ a b Aayan, Muhammad (13 March 2010). "Taliban dare Lahore". The Daily Times. Retrieved 13 March 2010.
  28. ^ "Death toll in Lahore twin suicide bombing touches 59". DNA. 13 March 2010. Retrieved 14 March 2010.
  29. ^ "45 killed, 100 injured in Lahore bombings". The Pioneer. Retrieved 12 March 2010.
  30. ^ "Pakistan's 'Bloodiest' Day This Year Capped By 5 More Explosions". The Two-Way. National Public Radio (U.S.). 12 March 2010. Retrieved 12 March 2010.
  31. ^ "Five low-intensity blasts hit Lahore: police". Agence France-Presse. Hindustan Times. 12 March 2010. Archived from the original on 5 June 2011. Retrieved 12 March 2010.
  32. ^ Khan, Omer Farooq (13 March 2010). "7 blasts hit Lahore; 45 killed, Pak Taliban claim responsibility". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 11 August 2011. Retrieved 12 March 2010.
  33. ^ Associated Press (16 March 2010). "Bomb materials seized in Pakistan". The Boston Globe. Retrieved 16 March 2010.
  34. ^ "Explosives cache found in Lahore". BBC News. British Broadcasting Corporation. 16 March 2010. Retrieved 16 March 2010.
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