Facebook activates 'safety check' feature following Quetta blast

At least 40 people were killed and 50 others injured when a bomb exploded in Civil Hospital Quetta


News Desk August 08, 2016
Friends and relatives of victims grieve at the scene of a bomb blast outside a hospital in Quetta August 8, 2016. PHOTO: REUTERS

Facebook on Monday activated its 'safety check' feature after a blast rocked Quetta's Civil Hospital.

The feature is designed to check if people in the explosion-affected areas are safe.

At least 40 people were killed and 50 others injured when a bomb exploded in Civil Hospital Quetta.

40 killed in blast at Quetta's civil hospital after lawyer's killing

Screengrab: Facebook

The blast, followed by firing was heard after president of Balochistan Bar Association (BA) Advocate Bilal Anwar Kasi was shot dead by unidentified assailants in Quetta.

A heavy contingent of Frontier Corps and police arrived and cordoned off the area. According to police and rescue officials, the bomb exploded as lawyers brought Advocate Kasi to the hospital.

Screengrab: Facebook

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Advocate Kasi was targeted by two unidentified gunmen who opened fire on his car near Quetta’s Mengal Chowk on Mannu Jan road. The president was shifted to Civil Hospital, where he succumbed to injuries.

Several lawyers, including former president of Balochistan BA Advocate Baz Muhammad Kakar, was reported injured in the explosion and aerial firing could still be heard near the hospital’s emergency’s ward.

According to reports, Aaj TV journalist Shehzad Ahmed was also killed in the blast, while Dawn News cameraman was critically injured.

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