Three individuals, including a police officer and two civilians, died in a suicide attack near a Balochistan Constabulary truck in Quetta’s Baleli area on Wednesday, police said.
At least 23 other people sustained injuries in the attack, including 20 policemen and three civilians, according to Quetta Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIGP) Ghulam Azfar Mahesar.
“The explosion took place near the police truck […] due to the impact [of the blast], the vehicle — which was on its way to provide security to police workers — toppled and fell into a ditch,” the official said while speaking to media at the blast site.
He said that a total of three vehicles were hit in the blast — the police truck, a Suzuki Mehran and a Toyota Corolla. “Looking at the crime scene and given that the truck toppled, it is estimated that 25 kilograms of explosives were used [in the blast].”
Mahesar added that the wounded have been moved to the Civil Hospital Quetta.
The official later told AFP that the deceased civilians included a child and a woman. This was corroborated by Dawn.com.
The banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) has claimed responsibility for the attack. Today’s blast comes a day after the militant group called off its ceasefire with the government and asked its combatants to carry out attacks across the country.
Earlier, Quetta Senior Superintendent of Police (Operations) Abdul Haq Umrani told that the blast site has been cordoned off and an investigation has begun.
