Quetta bomb blast leaves 20 dead, 30 injured

QUETTA: At least 20 people were killed and dozens others severely wounded in  a suicide bomb blast at vegetable market in the Hazar Gunji area  of Quetta on Friday morning.

TTP expands footprint in Balochistan as Quetta Safe City project remains in limbo

The TTP’s vicious attacks from January to March around Loralai came as a rude shock because the province that had borne the brunt of terrorism had begun to feel respite from terrorism since last year. But the spikes in terrorism are feared to continue till some more time, security sources told The News. While largely the capacity of terrorists to strike has degraded with the elimination and arrests of their active and sleeper cells, they are down but definitely not out, they said.

It has now been confirmed that the explosion was due to a suicide bomb blast.  

The most of the victims were vegetable vendors, who were shifted to Bolan Medical Complex  and Civil Hospital, while the site of the blast was cordoned off by the security forces.

According to the Medical Superintendent (MS) 11 bodies were brought to  the Civil Hospital, while three  victims were shifted to  BMC hospital.

Earlier taking to media, Quetta Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Police Abdul Razzaq Cheema had confirmed that  explosion left 16  people  dead and 30 injured.

Out of 16 dead, eight belonged to Hazara community, he said.

The blast occurred at around   7:35am and has said to be caused by  improvised explosive device (IED) that had been hidden among the vegetables in the market, the DIG added. 

Meanwhile, four FC personnel are also among the injured. 

Prime Minister Imran Khan has condemned the blast at the Hazargunji and summoned a report on it. 

PM Imran condoled the lives lost and directed the authorities to ensure the best medical treatment for the injured.