Lahore explosion: At least six dead in blast near Sufi shrine

At least eight people were killed on Wednesday after an explosion near a Sufi shrine in Pakistan's Lahore city, Dawn reported.

IG Punjab Arif Nawaz said that an attack on the police is a sign of terrorism.

However, officials warned that the attack highlighted the need for vigilance by people gathering for worship during Ramadan.

According to Shahbaz Gill, spokesperson for chief minister Punjab, the suicide bomber was 15-years-old.

Entry to the Data Darbar was sealed in the aftermath of the blast, and Zaireens have been asked to turn away as police conduct initial investigation into the incident.

"We had general threats, but nothing specific against Data Darbar".

DIG Operations Lahore Ashfaq Ahmed Khan, who was on his way to the hospital to visit the injured, confirmed 5 police officials died in the blast. Four civilians also lost their lives in the attack. He directed authorities to provide the best possible medical treatment to those injured. In Pakistan, militants carry out near-daily attacks targeting security forces. "The government and law enforcement agencies should be anxious about such incidents of terrorism", Hoti said.

The complex contains the shrine of Syed Ali bin-Osman Al-Hajvery, widely known as Data Ganj Bakhsh, an 11th century Sufi preacher originally from Ghazni in what is now Afghanistan.

While security has improved, the country still grapples with militant groups.

The shrine is located inside the ancient Walled City in Lahore, Pakistan's second-biggest city.

Its followers in Pakistan have been attacked by militants in the past.

An attack in the city in March previous year left nine people dead, while a major blast in a park in 2016 targeting Christians celebrating Easter killed more than 70 people.