Karachi: A powerful remote-controlled bomb blast near a mosque in Pakistan’s Balochistan province has killed four policemen and injured 11 others, the second major attack to rock the restive region in the last three days.
The explosion occurred Monday night when people were assembling for prayers near the mosque in the provincial capital Quetta’s Satellite Town area. The attack took place shortly after a police van arrived at the site to provide security to the people offering prayers at the mosque.
“The police vehicle carrying personnel for mosque security was targeted in the blast in which our four personnel of Rapid Response Group (RRG) lost their lives, while the condition of another was stated to be serious,” said Quetta Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Razzaq Cheema. He added that 11 people were injured in the attack and the conditions of some were critical.
In another incident which occurred, Saturday three heavily-armed militants Saturday stormed a luxury hotel in Pakistan’s port city of Gwadar in the restive Balochistan province, killing eight persons, including a Pakistan Navy soldier and three militants.
An improvised explosive device planted in a motorcycle went off close to the police van. Sources said unidentified people parked the explosive-laden motorbike near the mosque in Satellite Town area and detonated it by remote control when the police van arrived there, the ‘Dawn’ reported.
Many vehicles parked in the area were damaged and windowpanes of nearby buildings were shattered due to the powerful blast, though the mosque remained safe in the attack.
Security forces have cordoned off the area and launched a search operation to trace those involved in the blast.
The banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan has claimed responsibility for the motorcycle bomb blast targeting the police vehicle, the ‘Dawn’ report said.
Prime Minister Imran Khan has strongly condemned the targeted attack. He has sought a report on the blast and said the country was fully committed to completely eliminating terrorism. “Those who target innocent people in the holy month of Ramazan do not have a religion. The nation’s spirit is strong and Pakistan is determined to do away with the menace of terrorism,” Khan asserted.
PTI