March 2010 Lahore bombings
Encyclopedia
The March 2010 Lahore bombings were three separate, but related, bomb attacks in the Pakistan
i 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. The 12 March bombings are the deadliest attacks in Pakistan to date in 2010.
, Pakistan
that killed 13 people and injured 90.
Around 0810 PKT, an individual drove a vehicle carrying a large amount of explosives into the Federal Investigation Agency
's office in the Model Town
district of Lahore. The building collapsed due to the damage it sustained. The bomb was 1100 pounds (499 kg) in size, powerful enough to create a crater 12 feet (3.7 m) deep, and injure someone in a house 300 m away from the detonation.
The building had previously been attacked on 15 October 2009, in an incident
that killed four people.
and the Taliban for the incident. Rehman Malik
, Pakistan's Interior Minister, said that while more attacks by the Taliban were expected, they were "desperate measures by a desperate organization".
Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif condemned the attacks and said the victims would be compensated.
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," More specifically they said it was to avenge the death of Qari Zafar.
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
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."
. It was the second attack in Lahore that week, following a bomb explosion at an intelligence headquarters on 8 March 2010.
Around 1300 local time, two men on foot and wearing vests carrying explosives detonated bombs near the Royal Artillery Bazaar. One man detonated his vest first, followed by the other ten to fifteen seconds later. It was speculated that the intended target was a military convoy in the area at the time. The blasts wounded about 100 people, mostly civilians, and killed at least 59, of which ten were soldiers. Local Police officials have said that the death toll is likely to rise. Following the bombings, military reinforcements took control of the area, preventing even news media from entering.
In the late afternoon, five more bombs were detonated in an Iqbal Town
market, but their main consequence was panic. Some windows were broken, and a car was damaged, and three injuries were reported.
Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan
, the same group responsible for the 8 March bombing, has claimed responsibility for these attacks, as well. Lashkar-e-Jhangvi
has also claimed responsibility for the 12 March attack.
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
i city of Lahore
Lahore
Lahore is the capital of the Pakistani province of Punjab and the second largest city in the country. With a rich and fabulous history dating back to over a thousand years ago, Lahore is no doubt Pakistan's cultural capital. One of the most densely populated cities in the world, Lahore remains a...
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
Punjab (Pakistan)
Punjab is the most populous province of Pakistan, with approximately 45% of the country's total population. Forming most of the Punjab region, the province is bordered by Kashmir to the north-east, the Indian states of Punjab and Rajasthan to the east, the Pakistani province of Sindh to the...
. After several attacks in Lahore in 2009, these were the first major incidents in the city in 2010. The 12 March bombings are the deadliest attacks in Pakistan to date in 2010.
8 March
The 8 March 2010 Lahore bombing was a suicide bombing in LahoreLahore
Lahore is the capital of the Pakistani province of Punjab and the second largest city in the country. With a rich and fabulous history dating back to over a thousand years ago, Lahore is no doubt Pakistan's cultural capital. One of the most densely populated cities in the world, Lahore remains a...
, Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
that killed 13 people and injured 90.
Around 0810 PKT, an individual drove a vehicle carrying a large amount of explosives into the Federal Investigation Agency
Federal Investigation Agency
The Federal Investigation Agency is an agency of Pakistan, under the Ministry of Interior, that serves as a federal criminal investigative body with one of the Directorate dealing as Pakistani body of Interpol. It has a wide role in anti-terrorism, anti-fascism, anti-corruption, human smuggling...
's office in the Model Town
Lahore Model Town
Model Town Lahore is one of residential suburbs of Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan. It is located next to Faisal Town, Gulberg, Garden Town and Township suburbs of Lahore.- History :...
district of Lahore. The building collapsed due to the damage it sustained. The bomb was 1100 pounds (499 kg) in size, powerful enough to create a crater 12 feet (3.7 m) deep, and injure someone in a house 300 m away from the detonation.
The building had previously been attacked on 15 October 2009, in an incident
October 2009 Lahore attacks
The October 2009 Lahore attacks were simultaneous assaults on three buildings across Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan, on October 15, 2009, around 9:15 A.M. local time. The attacks killed 38 and wounded at least 20. One group of militants attacked the Regional Headquarters of the Federal Investigation...
that killed four people.
Reaction
Pakistani officials have reportedly blamed al-QaedaAl-Qaeda
Al-Qaeda is a global broad-based militant Islamist terrorist organization founded by Osama bin Laden sometime between August 1988 and late 1989. It operates as a network comprising both a multinational, stateless army and a radical Sunni Muslim movement calling for global Jihad...
and the Taliban for the incident. Rehman Malik
Rehman Malik
27 April 2009 He has been the interior adviser since 27 March 2008.Senator A. Rehman Malik is a Pakistani politician, member of the Senate of Pakistan, and the current Interior Minister of Pakistan under the Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani administration. His Second name is Shetan Malik and he...
, Pakistan's Interior Minister, said that while more attacks by the Taliban were expected, they were "desperate measures by a desperate organization".
Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif condemned the attacks and said the victims would be compensated.
A spokesperson for the Taliban in Pakistan
Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan
Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan , alternatively referred to as the Pakistani Taliban, is an umbrella organization of various Islamist militant groups based in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas along the Afghan border in Pakistan. Most, but not all, Pakistani Taliban groups coalesce under the TTP...
claimed the attack was retribution for recent attacks by the Pakistani military and the United States Central Intelligence Agency
Central Intelligence Agency
The Central Intelligence Agency is a civilian intelligence agency of the United States government. It is an executive agency and reports directly to the Director of National Intelligence, responsible for providing national security intelligence assessment to senior United States policymakers...
on tribal areas; and said "We have 2,800 to 3,000 more suicide bombers ... We will target all government places, buildings and offices," More specifically they said it was to avenge the death of Qari Zafar.
India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
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
United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Secretary of State
United States Secretary of State
The United States Secretary of State is the head of the United States Department of State, concerned with foreign affairs. The Secretary is a member of the Cabinet and the highest-ranking cabinet secretary both in line of succession and order of precedence...
, 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."
12 March
The 12 March 2010 Lahore bombings were a series of bombings in LahoreLahore
Lahore is the capital of the Pakistani province of Punjab and the second largest city in the country. With a rich and fabulous history dating back to over a thousand years ago, Lahore is no doubt Pakistan's cultural capital. One of the most densely populated cities in the world, Lahore remains a...
. It was the second attack in Lahore that week, following a bomb explosion at an intelligence headquarters on 8 March 2010.
Around 1300 local time, two men on foot and wearing vests carrying explosives detonated bombs near the Royal Artillery Bazaar. One man detonated his vest first, followed by the other ten to fifteen seconds later. It was speculated that the intended target was a military convoy in the area at the time. The blasts wounded about 100 people, mostly civilians, and killed at least 59, of which ten were soldiers. Local Police officials have said that the death toll is likely to rise. Following the bombings, military reinforcements took control of the area, preventing even news media from entering.
In the late afternoon, five more bombs were detonated in an Iqbal Town
Iqbal Town, Lahore
Iqbal Town is a commercial and residential locality in the south-western Lahore. It is named after Allama Iqbal, the national poet of Pakistan. Development was started in the late 1970s and early 1980s. It was previously famed for its name in Urdu, 'Sola Soo Acre سولہ سو ایکڑ' , due to its area...
market, but their main consequence was panic. Some windows were broken, and a car was damaged, and three injuries were reported.
Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan
Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan
Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan , alternatively referred to as the Pakistani Taliban, is an umbrella organization of various Islamist militant groups based in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas along the Afghan border in Pakistan. Most, but not all, Pakistani Taliban groups coalesce under the TTP...
, the same group responsible for the 8 March bombing, has claimed responsibility for these attacks, as well. Lashkar-e-Jhangvi
Lashkar-e-Jhangvi
Lashkar-e-Jhangvi is a militant organization. Formed in 1996, it has operated in Pakistan since Sipah-e-Sahaba activist Riaz Basra broke away from the SSP over differences with his seniors...
has also claimed responsibility for the 12 March attack.
Seizure of material
On 15 March 2010, police seized 3000 pounds (1,360.8 kg) of explosives in a raid on an empty shop in Lahore. Also seized were grenades, suicide bomb vests and ammunition. The shop owner was arrested.See also
- List of terrorist incidents, 2010
- List of terrorist incidents in Pakistan since 2001
- 2009 Lahore police academy attacks2009 Lahore police academy attacksAt 7.30 am on 30 March 2009, the Manawan Police Academy in Lahore, Pakistan was attacked by an estimated 12 gunmen. The perpetrators were armed with automatic weapons and grenades or rockets and some were dressed as policemen. They took over the main building during a morning parade when 750...
- 2009 Lahore bombing2009 Lahore bombingThe 2009 Lahore bombing was a bomb attack which took place on 27 May 2009 and killed at least 35 people and injured 250. During the attack gunmen fired on guards then destroyed the emergency response building at the city's police headquarters...
- December 2009 Lahore attacksDecember 2009 Lahore attacksDecember 2009 Lahore attacks were a series of two bomb blasts which occurred in a crowded market in Lahore, Pakistan on December 7, 2009. At least 54 people were killed & about 150 others wounded.-Attacks:...