Blast near Lal Masjid in Islamabad kills 17 policemen

Islamabad, July 6 : At least 17 policemen died and 40 others injured in a loud blast at a rally near Pakistan's Lal Masjid in Islamabad, a security official said.

According to security official, it appears to be a suicide attack.

Thousands of people, most of them madrassa students, gathered amidst tight security in Islamabad today to mark the first anniversary of the storming of the Lal Masjid here by the army.

They had assembled on a street near the mosque for a conference organised by hardline religious groups.

Police rushed to the spot and cordoned off the area as tension prevailed. The blast occurred in front of Aabpara police station.

Body parts were scattered in the area and ambulances reached the site of the blast.

The injured have been shifted to Islamabad's Poly Clinic hospital and most of the injured include policemen.

Emergency has been declared in all the hospitals of Islamabad.

Bomb disposal squad has reached the site of the blast. According to information, Reserve police personnel were targeted in the blast and the dead include policemen from Islamabad and Punjab.

Death toll is expected to mount considering the intensity of the blast.

According to The News, Deputy Commissioner Islamabad, Amir Ahmed Ali along with other senior officials has reached the place. Station House Officer Sehala, Inspector Sarwar has also been klled in the blast.

ANI