Panjgur blast kills one, injures 7

Remote controlled explosives planted on a motorcycle had targeted security personnel inside a bank.

QUETTA: A man was killed and seven others, including three security personnel, were injured when a remote controlled explosive device went off in Bismillah Chowk area of Chitkan bazaar in Panjgur district on Monday.

According to police, unknown persons had planted an explosive device onto a motorbike and parked it outside a private bank before detonating it by remote control. As result of the explosion, a passer-by was killed on the spot and seven others, including three security personnel, sustained injures.

Police and Frontier Corps personnel rushed to the spot and cordoned off the area. The deceased and injured were taken to the District Headquarters hospital and Javed Medical Complex for treatment.

“The target was security personnel who were inside the bank,” a police officer said, adding that an investigation into the incident has been initiated.

The deceased was identified as Abdul Rashid, son of Abdul Hakeem. Among the injured, the security personnel were identified as Zahid Iqbal, Umer Hayat and Mohammad Akhtar. The others injured were Khairullah, Muslim, Khalid and Faisal.

At least ten cars and few motorcycles were damaged in the blast. The police official said the bank building was also damaged in the attack.

According to eyewitness accounts, several security personnel were inside the bank when blast occurred.

A case has been registered against the unknown persons and an investigation into the attack has been launched.