LAHORE: The Counter Terrorism Department, Punjab, claims to have arrested two suspected terrorists including the prime accused who carried out a bomb blast at New Anarkali.

The blast claimed lives of three people and left 33 others injured.

The suspected terrorists, Sanaullah and Abdul Razziq, have been arrested during an intelligence-based operation (IOB) along with IEDs, detonator, prima cord, remote control and batteries. The IEDs were prepared to carry out two more terrorist attacks -- one on law-enforcement agencies (LEAs) and the other at a train coach at the Lahore railway station.

A spokesperson for the Punjab police said the IED blast was carried out through Remote Control Device at Paan Mandi, New Anarkali Bazaar, on Jan 1. He said the responsibility of the blast was claimed by the Baloch Nationalist Army.

The CTD Punjab had lodged a case under anti-terrorism charges. During investigation, he said, the CTD employed professional expertise and carried out analysis of footages of the Punjab Safe Cities Authority (PSCA). While working on leads developed through technical analysis and information received from sources, it was divulged that terrorists involved in Anarkali Blast had left from Balochistan by a truck to carry out terrorist activity in Lahore.

The spokesperson said on the intelligence lead, the CTD Punjab traced and arrested Sanaullah and Abdul Razziq. The suspects confessed to their involvement in New Anarkali blast and disclosed the plan of two other terrorist activities in Lahore.

Published in Dawn, May 18th, 2022