15 dead, 30 wounded in attack on army truck in Quetta
Balochistan interior minister confirmed that the blast was of high intensity
QUETTA (Dunya News/AFP) – A terror attack on military vehicle near Pishin Stop on Saturday in capital of southwestern province Balochistan that borders Afghanistan and Iran claimed lives of eight soldiers and seven civilians while left 30 injured.
Spokesperson for the provincial government Anwarul Haq Kakar has confirmed the number of injured in an exclusive talk with Dunya News. Reportedly, vehicles in the immediate vicinity caught fire and over ten water tenders were on the site to control the situation.
COAS condemns terrorist attack on Army truck in Quetta, an attempt to mar Indep Day festivity. Our resolve won t succumb to any challenge.
— Maj Gen Asif Ghafoor (@OfficialDGISPR) August 12, 2017
Kakar further reported that the blast took place near a hospital.
All 30 wounded were admitted to the Civil Hospital whilst security forces cordoned off the attack site and launched a search operation.
Balochistan interior minister confirmed that the blast was of high intensity and there were threats. “We will avenge the lives lost in war on terror,” he stated.
Sanaullah Zehri, Chief Minister (CM) of Balochistan, who accompanied ousted premier Nawaz Sharif at Data Darbar rally in Lahore at the time of the untoward incident said that all hospitals in the area were operating in state of emergency to counter the tensed situation.
Law enforcers have refrained from terming it a suicide blast or a plant bomb blast until departments concerned collect evidence at the site and gather required information.
"We can now confirm that 15 people have died in the explosion today. At least 32 others are wounded," Balochistan home minister Sarfraz Bugti told AFP, adding that a rescue operation was still underway.
He said the holidays of all doctors in the city were suspended. The nature of the blast could not immediately be determined but an investigation was underway, Bugti said.
There was no immediate claim of responsibility but Taliban and Islamic State militants have attacked Quetta city in the past.
Balochistan has oil and gas resources but is afflicted by militancy and sectarian violence.
