Wagah suicide bombing: Death toll climbs to 60

Islamabad: At least 60 people were killed and over 110 injured when a teenaged suicide bomber blew himself near the Wagah border in Pakistan, media reported on Monday. The incident took place Sunday evening in Lahore, The Nation reported. Inspector General of Police Mushtaq Ahmad Sukhera said an 18-year-old suspected suicide bomber blew up his explosive jacket around 5.50 p.m. in a crowd. People were returning after witnessing a flag-lowering ceremony with India at the Wagah border. [caption id=“attachment_1784953” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Wagah bombing. AFP.[/caption] The blast took place outside a restaurant near the first gate of the venue where the ceremony was held. The flag ceremony is held daily and is attended by hundreds of people on both the Pakistan and Indian sides. The victims included three Pakistan Rangers personnel along with 10 women and seven children. The responsibility was claimed separately by the Jundullah and Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan-affiliated Jamaat-ul-Ahrar outfits. The Jundallah outfit is based in Pakistan’s tribal region along the Afghan border and is believed to be responsible for a number of terrorist attacks in the country. The group was involved in the Sep 22, 2013 twin suicide bombing at a church in Peshawar that left 127 people dead and over 250 others injured. IANS