Suicide Bomber Kills Dozens At Indo-Pak Border

[Osama Bin Gandhi]

At least three jihadi militant groups have claimed responsibility for the attack, Shahzeb Jillani reports

 

More than 50 people were killed and at least 100 injured in a suicide bombing close to Pakistan's only border crossing with India.

The blast hit near the checkpoint at the Wagah border crossing, near Lahore.

The Pakistani Taliban said it had carried out the attack, although other militant groups - including Jundullah - also said they were responsible.

At least 15 people were badly injured, and officials said three members of the Pakistani border force had died.

Scattered bodies

The Wagah crossing is a high-profile target, with large crowds gathering every day to watch an elaborate flag-lowering ceremony as the border closes.

Mushtaq Sukhera, the Punjab police chief, told the Reuters news agency that the blast had happened when a suicide attacker approached a restaurant after the day's ceremony.

One witness, an intelligence official, said he was sitting in his office when he heard the blast.

"I rushed to the scene and saw scattered bodies, injured men, women and children and smashed cars," the official told Reuters.

[ChandraSekharCherukuri]

ee Pak terrorists ga;lani