QUETTA: At least 12 people, including five policemen, were killed and over a dozen injured after police attempted to stop the vehicle of a suspected suicide bomber from targeting their offices on Gulistan Road early Friday.
Around 16 injured persons, along with the bodies, were shifted to Civil Hospital, according to hospital officials. Of the injured, nine are said to be policemen.
Balochistan government spokesperson Anwarul Haq Kakar said, the suspected bomber, likely travelling in a 1986 Toyota Corolla, tried to break a security perimeter to target the police offices but blew up after policemen standing guard attempted to stop him.
Kakar said India is using terror as a tool against the people of Pakistan, adding that India is playing an extremely irresponsible role in Balochistan.
Security officials also confirmed that the blast was the result of a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device which exploded after the ‘suspicious’ driver was spotted by policemen.
Addressing the media earlier, DIG Quetta Abdul Razzaq Cheema confirmed that at least one policeman has lost his life in the incident but could not reveal his identity.
He added that they are examining CCTV footage to determine further details about the incident.
Security forces cordoned off the site of the blast and are investigating after rescue services shifted the injured and deceased to hospital. Officials said body parts of the suspected bomber, strewn across the site of the blast, are being collected along with other evidence for forensic examination.
Later, addressing the media, Balochistan Home Secretary Akbar Haripal said it appears the bomber wanted to attack the office of the inspector general police. He said investigations are under way to ascertain more details about the attacker.
Replying to a question, he said security was tight around city thus the attacker was forced to target police.
