12 killed in twin blasts in ISI office in Pak

At least 12 people were killed and 11 others injured when two blasts ripped through an office of the ISI within Multan cantonment in Pakistan's Punjab province today, the latest in a string of attacks targeting security facilities across the country.

The first blast occurred shortly before noon and was followed soon by a more powerful explosion, witnesses said.

Military police cordoned off the area and prevented people and the media from approaching the site.

Officials of a state-run rescue service said a dozen people were killed in the attack. Eleven injured people, including four children and two women, were taken to a nearby hospital.

Zafar Ahir, an editor of Jang newspaper who witnessed the blasts, said the target of the attack was an ISI office.

"More than half of the ISI office has been destroyed.

I saw the building blow up," he told Geo News channel.

Geo News aired mobile phone footage shot by passers-by which showed the facade of one building was completely destroyed by the blasts. Several nearby buildings were also damaged.

The footage also showed a plume of smoke rising from the site of the blast.

Some witnesses said the blasts were preceded by firing.

Officials said rescue workers were sifting through the rubble of the damaged building for survivors.