At least 4 killed in blast near Sufi shrine in Pakistan’s Lahore

At least four people have been killed in a blast near Lahore’s Data Darbar, the largest Sufi shrine in south Asia.

The blast took place on Wednesday morning after a TV footage from the scene showed a damaged police vehicle and debris strewn in front of the shrine.

Rescue services spokesperson Muhammad Farooq told Al Jazeera that the death toll stood at five people, with 17 others suffering injuries.

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“At least five of those wounded are in critical condition,” he said.

“The rescue operation at the site of the blast has been completed. Investigating agencies are now at the scene and are doing their work.”

Senior police official Muhammad Ashfaq told reporters that the security personnel at the shrine were targeted, but stressed that the cause of the blast remains under investigation.

Three police officials and a civilian were killed, he added.

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