29 killed, 200 injured in Lahore blasts

A series of blasts ripped through a religion procession in Pakistan’s Lahore killing at least 29 people and injuring over 200 on Wednesday, officials said.

Police said at least three powerful explosions took place during a Shiite religious precession.

Reports said the explosions took place in three different sites when the procession was making its way through the city .

Pakistan’s Geo TV said the outlawed Lashkar-e-Jhangvi Al-Almi claimed responsibility of the blasts which killed the processionists and a police constable.

A suicide bomber blew himself up, some media reports said.

Soon after the blasts, the marchers turned violent and set fire to a police station and even destroyed several vehicles, media reports added.

Pakistan?s Dawn reported that Punjab Police Chief Tariq Salim Dogar had said that the toll could rise further.

Meantime, Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani, condemning the blasts, said those behind the heinous crime would not go unpunished. He ordered an investigation.

President Asif Ali Zardari also condemned the killings along with Pakistan Muslim League-N Chief Nawaz Sharif.