DSP among three killed in Quetta explosion

DIG Fida Hussain says around 2kg of explosives was used in the blast, incident is being investigated from all angles

QUETTA:

At least three people, including a deputy superintendent of police (DSP), were killed and 22 others sustained injuries in a powerful blast in Quetta’s Fatima Jinnah Road on Wednesday.

Police said that several policemen were among the injured and a huge fire broke out at the site of the attack soon after the blast engulfing nearby shops.

“The explosion was so powerful and loud that it was heard miles away across the city and windows of the nearby buildings were reduced to pieces,” said a police official, adding that a large number of policemen and rescue workers had been sent to the spot and the injured were being shifted to the hospital.

Terrible news coming from Quetta. May Allah Ta’ala bless the martyred souls & give good health to the injured ones #QuettaBlast

— Murtaza Wahab Siddiqui (@murtazawahab1) March 2, 2022

“It is premature to jump to conclusion but it seems that the DSP was the target and he embraced martyrdom with two others,” said the official.

Hospital sources told The Express Tribune that they received the dead body of DSP Ajmal Sadozai along with the critically injured.

“The bodies of Sadozai, Muhammad Ali and one other were received at the hospital,” said Balochistan Health Department Media Coordinator Dr Wasim Baig.

Read more: Two security personnel injured in Quetta blast

Police said that the DSP was present at a shop along with his friend when the blast occurred near the shop. Quetta DIG Fida Hussain also confirmed the death of three people in the blast and said that at least two kilogrammes of high explosive had been used in the home-made device.

“We are investigating the attack from all aspects and special teams will be formed to this end,” he added. The attack also left several shops completely damaged along with vehicles parked by the roadside.