Islamic State claims roadside blast targeting judge in Quetta: SITE

The Islamic State group said Friday it was behind a roadside bomb that injured 13 in Quetta, the SITE Intelligence Group said, days after a major attack in the city killed 73.

At least 17 injured as roadside bomb targets judge's police escort in Quetta

The latest explosion on a bridge in the southwestern city on Thursday injured four police personnel and nine passers-by, in an attack apparently targeting a judge.

SITE reported that the IS group claimed the attack on its Telegram channel, al-Bayan Radio and Twitter.

The attack came just days after a suicide bombing at a hospital on Monday also claimed by the IS group killed 73 people, most of them senior lawyers gathered to mourn a colleague gunned down earlier in the day.

Quetta is the capital of the mineral-rich province of Balochistan, which is plagued by roiling insurgencies, hit by regular militant attacks and run by political leaders accused of corruption.

Quetta bombing leaves 17 injured

Lawyers are among the only people shining a spotlight on the province's many problems and have come under frequent attack.

Monday's bombing was also claimed by the Jamaat-ul-Ahrar faction of the Pakistani Taliban and analysts have been unclear on whose claim was more credible.

Islamic State 'jihadists' have been struggling to gain a foothold in Pakistan, facing competition from well-established extremist groups such as the Pakistani Taliban.