A bomb blast in an upscale shopping centre in Pakistan's eastern city of Lahore has killed at least eight people and wounded 20, the latest in a surge of violence that has shaken the country.
Security forces cordoned off the residential neighbourhood, also home to banks and coffee shops, rescue officials said, after what one bank worker said was a "frightening" explosion.
"We left the building and saw that the motorbikes parked outside were on fire and all the windows in the surrounding buildings were shattered," Mohammad Khurram told Reuters.
Punjab police spokesman Nayab Haider told Reuters Thursday's explosion was caused by a "planted bomb" that was either time or remotely detonated.
No one was allowed to leave or enter the area because the bomber was suspected to be at large, officials said.
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Reports of a second explosion turned out to be a tyre blowout that caused panic due to the tense atmosphere in the city, a government official said.
Thursday's bombing was the second attack in Lahore in two weeks. A suicide bombing on February 13 killed at least 13 people and wounded more than 80 at a protest near the provincial assembly.
Government and military officials have vowed extensive operations to hunt down militants across the country and Pakistan's border with Afghanistan has been shut down due to security concerns.
