UPDATE 2 – 8 killed, 25 injured in Lahore suicide bombing

UPDATES WITH STATEMENT BY TURKISH AMBASSADOR TO PAKISTAN</p> <p>By Aamir Latif</p> <p>KARACHI, Pakistan (AA) – At least eight people, including five police personnel, were killed and 25 others injured early Wednesday in a suicide blast near a Sufi shrine in the northeastern city of Lahore, officials and local media said.</p> <p>The suspected bomber struck a police patrol van at a checkpoint outside the shrine of Sufi saint Data Gunj Bux, local broadcaster Dunya News reported, quoting officials.</p> <p>&quot;Eight people including five police personnel are confirmed dead and 25 are injured,&quot; Arif Nawaz, police chief of the Punjab province, told reporters.</p> <p>Nawaz said the blast was act of a suicide bomber who acted alone.</p> <p>Authorities fear the death toll will rise as several of the injured were said to be in critical condition, the broadcaster reported.</p> <p>There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack.</p> <p>Footage aired by the broadcaster showed the mostly charred police vehicle lying on the road as rescuers shifted the injured and dead into ambulances.</p> <p>Blood-soaked shoes, caps, pieces of clothing and splintered wood and glass littered the scene.</p> <p>Prime Minister Imran Khan condemned the attack and directed security forces to expedite efforts to bring the culprits to justice, according to a statement from the Prime Minister’s House.</p> <p>Meanwhile, in a Twitter post, Turkish Ambassador to Pakistan Mustafa Yurdakul said: “Standing together with #Pakistan against any form of terrorism which does not hesitate to show its ugly face even in month of #Ramzan.”</p> <p>In July 2010, some 24 people were killed in a suicide attack at the same shrine.