At least four people have been killed and around 15 injured in a bomb attack outside the Data Darbar Sufi shrine in Lahore on Wednesday. According to Pakistan's Geo News, the blast targeted a van carrying personnel of the Punjab Police.
Local news agencies reported that police and rescue personnel reached the site of the explosion. Geo News reported two bodies were brought to a hospital along with 19 wounded persons.
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ARY News quoted eyewitnesses as saying a suicide bomber approached the van before detonating his explosives.
Data Durbar shrine is one of the largest and oldest Sufi shrines in South Asia. Dating back to the 11th century AD, it houses the remains of Abul Hasan Ali Hujwiri, considered the patron saint of Lahore. Thousands travel to the city every year to mark the Urs festival commemorating the death of a saint.
Suicide bombers last targeted the shrine in 2010, killing 50 and injuring over 200. The shrine's courtyard was heavily damaged in the attack. No single group claimed responsibility for the attacks then, though many held the Pakistani Taliban responsible. However, spokespersons from the Tehreek-e-Taliban (Pakistani Taliban) denied conducting the attack. telling AFP that it was a "conspiracy by foreign secret agencies".
UPDATE: Five killed, 24 injured, according to Dawn.
