Lahore suicide attacks at Data Darbar claim 50 lives

The death toll of suicide attacks in Data Darbar has mounted to 43 of which 28 have been identified.
Lahore was on high alert on Friday, after two suicide bombers blew themselves up at Data Darbar, packed with devotees, killing more than 40 people and wounding 175.
"The first blast occurred in the basement followed by another one with a deafening sound," said a witness. A large number of police and security personnel were patrolling busy and sensitive areas in Lahore, a city of around 10 million people. Police sources said heads of two suicide bombers have been found.
Security was particularly tight around mosques ahead of weekly Muslim prayers, said senior police officer Mohammad Faisal Rana.
An investigating officer said that the bomber in the basement set off his vest after he was intercepted by a group of worshippers. The police were combing the scene for forensic clues.
The entire country is in state of shock and religious parties have strongly condemned the attacks.

The Pakistani Taliban on Friday denied any involvement in a twin suicide bombing on a shrine in Lahore, which killed 43 people and wounded 175 others.
"We are not responsible for these attacks, this is a conspiracy by foreign secret agencies, you know we do not attack public places," Azam Tariq, a spokesman for Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan told foreign news agency by telephone from an undisclosed location.
"We condemn this brutal act. Our target is very clear and we only attack police, army and other security personnel," he added.

One of the two suicide bombers who blew himself up in Data Darbar on Thursday night has been identified, police sources said. According to police, the bomber identified as Usman son of Yaseen, is a resident of Hadyara Barki, district Lahore and carried out the blast in the basement of Data Darbar.

CCTV footage showed khadimeen of Data Darbar trying to take hold of Usman. Three people were killed in the blast carried out by Usman and it also paved the way for the entry of another suicide bomber.
Police said Usman was identified when his two brothers Sharif and Latif reached Data Darbar in search of him. They identified Usman through CCTV footage. Both have been arrested and held at a undisclosed location. DNA test of the family of Usman including his detained brothers will be conducted, sources added.