At least seven people, including six policemen, were killed and 24 others injured in an explosion targeting a truck carrying police officials in the Sariab Mill area of Quetta yesterday.
Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) Abdul Razzaq Cheema said an investigation is underway to determine whether the blast was a suicide bombing or whether an explosives-laden vehicle was detonated remotely when the police truck was passing by, adding that the death toll could increase.
The 35-strong contingent of elite policemen had been recently assigned patrol of various sensitive areas and were on their way to work on the Quetta-Sibi road when the explosion took place, Baluchistan Home Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti told DawnNews.
Bugti told AFP that a car rammed the police vehicle before catching fire, adding it was “apparently a suicide attack”, in an account confirmed by.
Investigators collect evidence from the site of the attack.
“Police were targeted in this attack,” Bugti said.
DIG Cheema confirmed the death toll, saying that 24 people were wounded, several critically.
The Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan claimed responsibility for the attack, but the claim has not been independently verified by Dawn.com.
Chief Minister Sanaullah Zehri, while speaking to reporters, said the bomb contained 80kilos of explosive material.
Following the attack, an emergency was imposed in hospitals in Quetta. Some of the injured were admitted to Civil Hospital Quetta, while the rest were being treated at Combined Military Hospital.
Investigators collect evidence from the site of the attack.
A forensic team and the Bomb Disposal Squad had reached the site of the attack to investigate the nature of the blast, Bugti said, adding that a forensic team from Lahore would arrive in Quetta tomorrow to aid in the probe.
“The war against terrorism is not over. Baluchistan is on the forefront of this fight and we will not stop until every single terrorist has left the area,” the home minister said.
He added: “These cowardly attacks will not hinder our security forces in executing their duties.”
Pakistani investigators collect evidence from a burnt police truck after a suicide blast on the outskirts of Quetta yesterday.
