Lahore was once again rocked on Friday noon with a series of bomb blasts ripping apart a crowded market place in the Cantonment area of the city killing at least five persons and injuring over 40 others.

According to initial reports, at least three deafening blasts were heard in RA Bazaar and Saddar roundabout as people gathered for Friday prayers.

Rescue and paramedic teams rushed to the spot immediately after the explosions and eye witnesses said casualties could be huge as the blasts occurred in a crowded area.

"We have sent our teams to the site to ascertain the kind of blasts, where they took place and the losses," a foreign news agency quoted local police official Mohammad Shafiq-ur-Rehman, as saying.

The explosions came less than a week after a suicide car bomber tore through the office of the Special Intelligence Agency (SIA) killing at least 13 people and wounding over 20 others. (ANI)