Multiple blasts: Four bomb blasts in Quetta kill six, injure 40

Suicide bomber detonates near FC check post, killing two FC personnel.

QUETTA: The city of Quetta on Tuesday was rocked by four back-to-back explosions, spreading panic and fear among residents.

A suicide bomber in a car killed at least six people, when he blew himself up near a Fronteir Corps (FC) checkpost near the Shia-dominated area of Alamdar Road. The blast killed at least two Frontier Corps (FC) personnel, and injured 40 others, including four children.

Initial reports suggested that the bomber wanted to target the Shia residents in the area, but failing to reach Alamdar Road, he detonated the explosives near an FC check post in the vicinity.

Capital City Police Officer (CCPO) Quetta Mir Zubair, while addressing the media, confirmed that four people, including the two FC personnel, were killed and 40 others had sustained injures from the blast.

The Bomb Disposal Squad (BDS) reported that around 90 to 100 kgs of explosive materials were used in the blast. “It was a massive blast,” a BDS official said.

A spokesperson for militant group Lashkar-e-Jhangvi claimed responsibility for the blast via telephone from an undisclosed location, though he did not specify who the target was.

Eye witness Mohamamd Idress told The Express Tribune that the suicide bomber was trying to enter Alamdar road from Pir Mohamamd road, where the FC check post was located. “The suicide bomber’s car was stopped by the FC personnel for checking where he blew himself up,” he said.

Rescue teams and police rushed to the scene after the blast, and the deceased and injured were shifted to Civil Hospital.

The city witnessed three consecutive bomb blasts in different areas of the city prior to the suicide blast, which caused fear among the residents and led to businesses shutting down.

The first incident occurred in Killi Shabo, in the area of Jinnah Town, when unknown assailants planted a bomb that exploded with a loud bang. However, no casualties were reported.

The second blast occurred in the area of Gawalmandi Chowk, where unidentified men hurled a hand grenade that injured at least five people.

The third incident occurred in Gurdat Singh road, which left two people injured. According to the police, the bomb was planted by the roadside.

All of the injured were immediately shifted to Civil Hospital.

Governor Balochistan Zulfiqar Ali Magsi and caretaker Chief Minister Balochistan Ghous Bakhsh Barozai condemned the blasts and expressed their grief and sorrow over the loss of innocent lives.

Barozai took notice of the blasts and directed the administration to adopt stringent measures for making security more effective. He also asked for the report of the blasts and directed the concerned authorities to provide the best possible treatment to the injured.

The caretaker chief minister further directed authorities to provide foolproof security to all political processions.

In another incident, unknown suspects hurled a hand grenade at the house of National Party candidate from PB-48 Haji Muhammad Islam, but no casualty was reported.