8 killed in blast near Indian eatery in Lahore

An official said 21 people were injured and they were shifted to the General Hospital where four were in a critical condition.

Pakistani security officials examine the site after a bomb attack in Lahore on Thursday.

Eight people were killed on Thursday in an explosion near a restaurant serving Indian cuisine in Lahore, police said.

Punjab Law Minister Rana Sanaullah said 21 injured people were shifted to the General Hospital where four were in critical condition, Xinhua news agency reported.

Police spokesman Nayab Haider said the blast was triggered by the detonation of explosive materials in the Defence area.

The bomb disposal squad said a timer device was used to carry out the explosion and that eight to 10 kg of explosives were used in the attack.

The blast occurred in an under-construction building, located right next to Bombay Chowpatty, a restaurant that serves Indian cuisine.

At least four vehicles and 12 motorbikes were destroyed in the explosion. Four nearby buildings were also damaged.

Heavy contingents of police, Army and people from intelligence agencies reached the blast site and cordoned it off, Xinhua reported.

The Army vacated all the nearby buildings and launched a rescue and search operation.

A few days ago, the same market was evacuated and checked by law enforcement agencies after a bomb threat by some outlawed group was received.

No group has claimed responsibility for Thursday’s attack.

Officials, however, denied that a second blast took place in Lahore.