Two police officials killed, two injured in Quetta attack

Unidentified gunmen open fire on police van on Saryab Road.

QUETTA: At least two police officials, including an Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI), were killed and two injured in an ambush on Saryab Road of Quetta on Monday.

According to Superintendent of Police (SP) Sikandar Tareen, a police van of New Saryab PS was returning from a court when a group of armed men, lurking near Aid Village, opened indiscriminate fire.

As a result, the driver of the police van lost control and dashed into a nearby wall. “A gas cylinder in the vehicle exploded when it rammed into the wall,” SP Saryab said.

The assailants managed to flee from the scene after carrying out the attack.

A heavy contingent of police and security forces reached the spot soon after the attack and threw a cordon in the area.

The deceased were taken to the Provincial Sandeman Hospital where they were identified as ASI Abdul Qayyum and the driver as Constable Mohammad Asif. The condition of the injured were said to be out of danger.

A case has been registered against unknown persons and an investigation is underway.

No group has so far claimed responsibility for the attack.

Police officials have been regularly targeted in Quetta during the last week. The most recent attack came on Sunday evening after a remote controlled bomb planted on a donkey cart targeted a police van passing by on Saryab Road.