- Taliban bomber kills 9 in Quetta suicide attack
- Four FC personnel among those killed as suicide bomber riding bicycle detonates explosives near FC vehicle
At least 9 people, including four security personnel, a woman and child were killed and 23 others sustained injuries in a suicide attack on Saturday in Quetta.
According to details, a security personnel convoy comprising a truck and two vehicles was on a routine patrolling on the Adalat Road of Quetta city when a bicycle rider targeted it, killing 9 people.
A large number of policemen rushed to the spot shortly after the incident and cordoned off the area. The deceased and injured were shifted to the Civil Hospital Quetta.
The outlawed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) has claimed responsibility for the attack.
“The TTP’s TSG unity carried out the attack that targeted the convoy of security forces,” Taliban spokesperson Mohammad Khorasani said in a statement.
DIG Police Quetta Sayed Imtiaz Shah said around 12 to 15 kg explosive material was used in the blast.
Around five vehicles, four motorcycles and three rickshaws were damaged due to the blast. The window panels of the nearby offices were also destroyed.
Claiming that the attack was aimed at damaging the CPEC project, Balochistan Home Secretary Akbar Hussain Durrani said the security forces were being targeted because of the economic corridor.
Inspector General Frontier Corps Balochistan Major General Sher Afgun said that the elements who are involved in terrorist activities will be eliminated.
“Action against the terrorists will be fast and will bring peace for people of Balochistan,” he said.
The deceased were identified as Mohammad Asif, 13-year-old Samreen Kurd, Hisbullah.
Injured FC personnel were identified as Naseebullah, Nazim Ali, Nasib Ali, Mohammad Arif, Abdul Hafeez, Liqaut Ali Shah, Inamullah, ZiaUllah, Shad Aman, Aishfaq, Mohammad Ashraf, Naqeeb and civilian as Abdul Wahab, Aman, Mohammad Naeem, Manzoor, Saman, Dilawar, Aehsanullah, Naqeebullah, Uzma, Mohammad Asim and police constable Mohamamd Dad Muhammad.
Balochistan Chief Minister Nawab Sanaullah Khan Zehri condemned the suicide attack and expressed sorrow for the FC personnel and civilians who lost their loves.
The chief minister also announced compensation of Rs1 million for those killed and Rs500,000 for the injured.
In a statement, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif condemned the attack and directed authorities to give best medical treatment to the injured.
The PM also directed law enforcement officials to hunt down the culprits responsible for this terror attack.
“Such attacks will not deter the government’s resolve to eliminate terrorism from the country,” he said.
