QUETTA: Another child wounded in the targeted suicide attack on a police truck in Quetta, succumbed to his injuries hours after the bombing that killed three others and reportedly injured at least 26, including around 20 cops on Wednesday.
At least two, including a cop were initially reported dead in a suicide attack on a truck transporting policemen for the security of polio workers during the ongoing drive, in Quetta's Baleli area this morning.
However, the death toll climbed as a woman and her child injured in the bombing succumbed to their injuries on different occasions, later in the day, the hospital administration shared. Both the deceased children were siblings, they added.
According to the police, two vehicles passing by were also hit by the blast. The police team was preparing to escort polio vaccinators in Quetta.
The injured are being treated at Civil hospital. Hospital officials said the condition of most of the victims is out of danger.
Among the injured, at least 23 were cops, as per the latest figures provided by the police.
Deputy Inspector-General Ghulam Azfar Mahesar held a media talk shortly after news of the blast spread in which he explained the nature of blast and initial details the law enforcers had obtained.
The DIG said that 20 to 25 kilogrammes of explosives were used in the suicide attack. He confirmed law enforcers found remains of a suicide bomber near the crime scene. He said that the police truck toppled due to the explosion and fell into a ravine.
Sharing the details of casualties and civilian cars affected, DIG Mehsar said that the cop was martyred as a result of being crushed under the truck when it fell into the ravine. He said the condition of two cops was critical.
As per the DIG, three vehicles were hit - the police truck, a Toyota Corolla and Suzuki Mehran.
He said that the police truck was moving personnel deployed for the security of polio workers for an ongoing drive.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif strongly condemned the explosion and directed an investigation into it, in a statement issued after the blast.
He also directed to provide best possible medical treatment to those injured.
The PM expressed grief and sorrow over the death of a law enforcer and child in the incident.
The premier said polio workers are fulfilling their responsibility without caring about their lives to eliminate this deadly disease from the country. For this, he said we pay tribute to their services.
Militant elements will always fail in their designs to stop anti-polio campaigns, he said.
Balochistan Inspector-General Abdul Khaliq Sheikh said that terrorists launched a "cowardly attack on the police force".
He said that such attacks will not lower the police's morale.
"Protecting people's lives and property is our job. Our morale high and our determination is strong," the IGP said.
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