Explosions occur in E Pakistan, at least 16 dead

ISLAMABAD, March 11 (Xinhua) -- Two explosions took place in eastern Pakistan on Tuesday morning, killing at least 16 people, local TV channel DAWN NEWS reported.

One explosion occurred near the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) Office on Mall Road in Lahore, capital city of the eastern Punjab province, said the report.

The explosion was triggered by some explosive devices planted in the FIA building and it was not a suicide blast, according to DAWN NEWS.

The building was badly damaged in the explosion and some vehicles parked outside the building were totally destroyed.

There were more than two hundred people working inside the seven-story building at the time of the blast.

Witnesses were quoted as saying that at least 12 bodies had been shifted out of the building and many others suffered injuries. There is no official confirmation about the casualties in the blast.

Rescue teams are looking for survivors in the building and the injured are being sent to local hospitals.

Local media reported that six suspects were being questioned in the FIA building when the blast occurred.

Some other TV channels said up to 18 people were killed and over 50 others injured in the FIA blast.

The other bomb blast ripped through a building in Model Town in Lahore shortly after the FIA blast and four people were feared dead and three others injured.

The front of the building at a house in Model Town, which served as the office of an advertising agency, was totally destroyed in the explosion.

Two suicide bombers managed to enter the house and blew themselves up, killing two children in the house.

Police and rescue teams have reached the spot and have started rescue operations.