The Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) on Sunday arrested a suspected facilitator of the suicide blast in Lahore from Gujranwala.
The CTD raided a house in Aimnaabad area of Gujranwala and arrested a man named Zeeshan, who is accused of being one of the facilitators of the Data Darbar suicide blast which claimed the lives of 13 people, including five police officials and a security guard.
In his video statement, Zeeshan, however, said he is a grocer and that he is not involved in the Lahore attack. The alleged facilitator further said that at the time of the blast he was inside the shrine and that he ran out as soon as he heard the explosion. “I was accused of being a facilitator after being seen in the video,” he said.
Toll climbs to 13 as another injured passes away
Earlier this week, the security forces arrested five suspected facilitators from Garhi Shahu area after a raid on a tea stall. The suspects are believed to have been in contact with the individuals behind the suicide blast which targeted a police van stationed outside the entrance of Data Darbar.
On Thursday, an image of the alleged suicide attacker was released by the police. The image showed the attacker next to the right side of the Elite Force police van and 8:54am. He is facing the main gate of Data Dabar and is wearing a shalwar kameez while carrying a bag.
According to Shahbaz Gill, spokesperson for Punjab chief minister, the suicide bomber was 15 years old. He had exited a shop selling fruits just before making his way to the Elite Force van.
Meanwhile, death toll in Data Darbar blast climbed to 13 as another injured of the incident succumbed to his injuries on Sunday. According to details, a wounded victim of the blast succumbed to his injuries at Lahore’s Mayo Hospital.
On Saturday, Prime Minister Imran Khan during a day-long visit to Lahore got a briefing from Chief Minister Usman Buzdar on investigation into the incident. He reportedly directed the chief minister to bring the culprits to book at the earliest and enhance security in the province to avert any such incidents in the future.
