Death toll in Quetta suicide bombing rises as another child dies

Three people – a policeman, woman and child – lost their lives and at least 27 people were injured in a suicide blast in the Baleli area of ​​Quetta, officials said Wednesday morning.

According to the police, a truck of the Balochistan Constabulary was targeted in the explosion, and two vehicles passing by were also hit by it. 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 latest figures provided by the police.

20-25kg explosives used: Quetta DIG

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.

PM directs investigation into explosion in Baleli

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.

‘Cowardly attack won’t lower police morale’

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.

Article source: https://www.thenews.com.pk/latest/1015287-quetta-explosion