:July 2017 Lahore suicide bombing

{{Infobox civilian attack

| title = July 2017 Lahore suicide bombing

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| map = {{Location map|Pakistan Lahore#Pakistan Punjab#Pakistan|border=infobox|lat_deg=31.476080|lon_deg=74.343292|label=Ferozepur Road, Lahore}}

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| location = Ferozepur Road, Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan

| target = Police officials

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| date = 24 July 2017

| time = 15:55:34

| timezone = PST

| type = Suicide bombing

| fatalities = 26 (+1 bomber)

| injuries = 54

| victims = Policemen and civilians

| perpetrators= Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (claimed responsibility){{cite news|url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1347364|title=26 killed in blast near Lahore's Ferozepur Road|work=Dawn|date=24 July 2017|access-date=24 July 2017}}

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On 24 July 2017, a suicide bombing took place in a vegetable market in Lahore, Pakistan. 26 people were killed and 58 others were wounded as a result of the explosion. Security officials believe that the attack targeted policemen, as there were 9 killed and 6 wounded.{{cite news|url=https://www.geo.tv/latest/150864-lahore-explosion|title=At least 26 people, including 9 policemen martyred in Lahore attack|work=Geo News|date=24 July 2017|access-date=24 July 2017}}{{cite tweet|number=889471401102647296|user=GovtOfPunjab|title=@CMShehbaz #LahoreBlast - 5:45...|date=24 July 2017}} Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan claimed responsibility for the attack.

Bombing

At around 15:55 (PST),{{cite news|url=https://arynews.tv/en/blast-lahore-ferozpur-road/|title=At least 28 killed in blast near Lahore's Ferozpur Road|work=ARY News|date=24 July 2017|access-date=25 July 2017}} a motorbike bomb struck an old vegetable market in the neighbourhood of Kot Lakhpat.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-40702927|title=Pakistan blast: Car bomb kills 26 in Lahore|work=BBC News|date=24 July 2017|access-date=24 July 2017}} The market was full of police at the time because officers had been sent to clear stalls that had illegally spilled into the road.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-40702927|title=Pakistan blast: Taliban bike bomb kills 26 in Lahore|work=BBC News|date=24 July 2017|access-date=25 July 2017}} According to DIG Operations Haider Ashraf, the blast was a suicide attack and "police were the target."{{Cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/07/24/least-15-killed-lahore-blast-attack-near-government-building/|title=At least 26 killed in Lahore Taliban suicide blast that targeted police|work=The Telegraph|access-date=2017-08-01|language=en-GB}} Two vehicles, including one motorcycle, have reportedly been damaged.{{cite news|url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1347364|title=25 killed in blast near Lahore's Ferozepur Road: Lahore deputy commissioner|work=Dawn|date=24 July 2017|access-date=24 July 2017}}

Hussain, one of the injured policemen told The Express Tribune:{{cite news|url=https://tribune.com.pk/story/1466727/families-ripped-apart-lahore-blast/|title=Families ripped apart in Lahore blast|author=Ali Ousat|date=26 July 2017|access-date=27 July 2017}}

We were standing under a tree when I spotted an auto rickshaw coming from the wrong side. I rushed to warn the driver fearing he might get hurt as heavy machinery was tearing down encroachment in the area. As soon as I walked towards the rickshaw, a loud explosion went off tossing me on the ground. I tried to get up but stooped over due to excruciating pain in my back. I looked around and found bodies lying everywhere and blood splattered.

Aftermath

Soon after the attack, police and other law enforcement personnel reached the site of the incident and cordoned off the area. Forensics teams started collecting evidence from the blast site. Rescue 1122 teams started taking the injured to nearby hospitals where a state of emergency was imposed.{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/07/24/world/asia/pakistan-lahore-suicide-bombing.html|title=Suicide Bombing Targeting Pakistani Police Kills at Least 26|last1=Khan|first1=Sameen|date=2017-07-24|work=The New York Times|access-date=2017-08-08|last2=Masood|first2=Salman|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331}} Pictures of the deceased policemen were released on Lahore Police's official Twitter account.{{cite tweet|number=889509487542980609|user=Lahorepoliceops|title=پولیس کے شیر جوانوں نے اپنی جانوں کے...|date=24 July 2017}}

= Reactions =

The then Prime Minister, Nawaz Sharif condemned the attack and expressed deep grief and sorrow over the loss of many lives.{{cite news|url=http://www.brecorder.com/2017/07/24/360985/pm-strongly-condemns-lahore-blast/|title=PM strongly condemns Lahore blast|work=Business Recorder|date=24 July 2017|access-date=24 July 2017}} CM Punjab, Shahbaz Sharif condemned the attack saying, "No words can express the grief which grips my heart right now. [The] blast destroyed many families, but terrorists can never destroy our resolve."{{cite tweet|number=889462619853246464|user=CMShehbaz|title=No words can express the grief which...|date=24 July 2017}} DG ISPR Asif Ghafoor tweeted, "COAS shares grief with victim families of Lhr blast. Directs for immediate rescue and relief efforts. Troops reached at site."{{cite tweet|number=889464250275704832|user=OfficialDGISPR|title=COAS shares grief with victim...|date=24 July 2017}} Chairman of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Imran Khan has condemned Lahore blast and termed it the "worst example of terrorism". PTI Secretary Information Shafqat Mahmood also condemned the blast and expressed his sympathies to the bereaved families.{{cite news|url=http://www.brecorder.com/2017/07/24/360967/imran-condemns-lahore-blast/|title=Imran Khan condemned Lahore blast|work=Business Recorder|date=24 July 2017|access-date=24 July 2017}} Tahir-ul-Qadri have also condemned the attack.{{cite news|url=https://tribune.com.pk/story/1465491/explosion-heard-near-arfa-tower-lahore/|title=Three cops among 14 martyred in Lahore 'suicide' blast|work=The Express Tribune|date=24 July 2017|access-date=24 July 2017}} In a tweet, he said, "The loss of precious lives in [the] terrorist attack in Lahore is regrettable and highly condemnable."{{cite tweet|number=889457235352596480|user=TahirulQadri|title=The loss of precious lives in...|date=24 July 2017}} Interior Minister, Chudhary Nisar postponed his much awaited press conference saying it was not possible for him to address political issues in the wake of casualties.{{cite news|url=https://www.thenews.com.pk/latest/218558-Chaudhry-Niar-addresses-press-conference|title=Chaudhry Niar refuses to discuss political issues after Lahore blast|work=The News International|date=24 July 2017|access-date=24 July 2017}} Maryam Nawaz, in a tweet, said, "Sad, heart-wrenching news from Lahore. May Allah SWT protect Pakistan. Ameen".{{cite tweet|number=889459116493635584|user=MaryamNSharif|title=Sad, heart-wrenching news from...|date=24 July 2017}}