Explosions in Lahore kill at least 25, injure 180

Islamabad At least 25 people were killed and around 180 injured in three explosions on Wednesday that targeted a religious procession commemorating the martyrdom of Hazrat Ali in Lahore, officials and media reports said.

Earlier, shots were fired at a similar procession in Karachi, leaving five people injured, reports said. The police quickly surrounded the building from where the firing had originated and arrested three people.

Critical condition

The head of the local administration in Lahore, Commissioner Khusro Parvez, said two of the explosions were "confirmed suicide attacks". He had earlier told state-run television that all three were most probably carried out by suicide bombers.

The injured were taken to hospital and sources said several were critical.

The explosions took place at Bhatti Chowk in the heart of the city and at Karbala Gaameyshah, a Shiite place of worship and the termination point for the annual religious procession in Lahore, capital of Punjab province.