15 dead in Quetta mosque suicide hit

QUETTA: At least 15 people were martyred and 20 were injured after a suicide bomber struck a mosque located in Ghousabad area of Quetta city on Friday, officials said.

According to police, DSP Amanullah was among those who were martyred in the blast that took place during the Maghrib prayer. Rescue teams arrived soon to shift the injured to the Civil Hospital.

Law enforcement agencies cordoned off the area to initiate investigation into the incident. Police said that a month ago, DSP Amanullah's son was martyred in a firing incident. Amanullah was deployed at the Police Training College located at Saryab Road.

Fida Mohammad, who was attending the prayer, said about 60 people were present at the time of the attack on the mosque, which is located in a densely populated area.

The explosion ripped through the front row of worshippers seconds after the prayer began, he told AFP.

"It was a powerful blast, people were screaming and running here and there -- many people were injured because of the stampede," Fida Mohammad said.

Mohammad Waseem, a doctor at Quetta´s Sandeman Hospital, confirmed that 15 victims had died.

The police chief of Balochistan province, Mohsin Hassan Butt, also confirmed the death toll, telling AFP: "Nineteen people are still taking medical treatment, the condition of three to four is critical."

Balochistan Home Minister Ziaullah Langu told reporters that investigations by bomb disposal officers indicated that a suicide bomber carried out the attack.

A spokesman for the provincial government, Liaqat Shahwani, confirmed a suicide bomber was to blame. The Islamic State (IS) militant group claimed responsibility for the attack, according to the SITE intelligence group.

Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa said the Pakistan Army will give complete assistance to police and civil administration, DG ISPR Major General Asif Ghafoor said in a tweet.

The DG ISPR conveyed the COAS’ message and quoted him as saying: “Those who targeted innocents in a mosque can never be true Muslims.”

The military spokesman said the Frontier Corps (FC) personnel reached the site of the blast. President Arif Alvi and Prime Minister Imran Khan strongly condemned the blast in a Quetta’s mosque and expressed grief and sorrow over the loss of precious lives. They prayed for early recovery of the injured and directed for provision of best possible medical facilities to them. The prime minister called for report of the incident.

Balochistan Governor Abdul Quddus Bizenjo, Chief Minister Jam Kamal Khan and Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar also condemned the blast and expressed grief at the loss of lives. They directed security agencies to take stringent measures across the province to ensure that citizens remain safe and secure.