24 die in Rawalpindi blasts

RAWALPINDI: At least 24 people were killed and several injured in Tuesday morning twin blasts in garrison city of Rawalpindi. Pakistan military spokesman Maj. General Waheed Arshad has confirmed deaths in the blasts.
The first blast ripped through a bus of a sensitive institution in Qasim Market area of Rawalpindi killing 17 people and injuring more than 18 people among which 6 were reported in a critical state.
The second bomb went off in Rawalpindi’s R A market in which 7 people were killed and several others were wounded. Emergency has been declared in the hospitals of Rawalpindi and Islamabad. Security forces have cordoned off the area after the incident.
Pakistan military spokesman Maj. General Waheed Arshad talking to Geo News confirmed that 24 people were killed and 66 were wounded in the blasts. He said the defence ministry’s bus was destroyed in the blast.“It is premature to identify the nature of blasts and the culprits”, Waheed Arshad said adding that the concerned agencies have started investigations. Following the blasts, security has been beefed up in Lahore. CCPO Lahore has directed the city police to step up security at bus stands, railway stations and airport.

(Courtesy geo)