Three killed, dozens injured in Lahore shrine blast

LAHORE - Three people were killed and 27 others injured in a bomb blast outside the Baba Haider Sayeen shrine near Minar-e-Pakistan in Lahore.

The shrine was jam-packed with devotees on Thursday night when the explosion took place outside the main entrance of the shrine, the Daily Times reports.

According to sources, as many as 22 injured were shifted to the Mayo Hospital, and one of them was said to be in a critical condition.

Several others were rushed to Nawaz Sharif Hospital, one of which was a police constable, sources added.

According to bomb disposal squad officials, it was a locally made remote-controlled device, which exploded at a time when food was being distributed among the devotees.

About a half to one kilogramme of explosive material and ball bearings were used in the bomb, which left a deep crater in the ground, the officials added.

The police cordoned off the area soon after the explosion and launched a search operation in the surrounding areas of the blast site. (ANI)