28 killed, over 70 injured in Pakistan suicide attack

Islamabad : At least 28 people, included nine women and a minor girl, were killed and over 70 injured in a suicide blast in Quetta city of Pakistan’s Balochistan province Sunday night, the Dawn reported.

The incident occurred in the city’s Hazra town, targetting a religious seminary of Shia Muslim community.

It was a powerful blast which suspended the electricity supply to the area, delaying rescue work. A number of vehicles, shops and houses located nearby the blast site were also damaged, local media said.

Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif condemned the suicide attack and offered sympathy to the grieved families.

The toll was confirmed by Capital City police officer Mir Zubair Mehmood who said it happened when a suicide bomber riding a bicycle blew himself up in the crowded area, despite strict security measures in a highly sensitive and guarded area of Quetta.

A witness said that the suicide bomber, wearing a woman’s dress and veil, exploded his explosive-laden jacket when a big number of people including women and children came out after offering prayers in a mosque, located in the seminary, said Xinhua which had earlier reported about two blasts occurring in the suicide attack.

The bomber was a young male and his head was found some 50 meters away from the site.

Meanwhile, Shia community announced three-day mourning over the incident in the country. It also sought solid steps from the government to arrest the culprits and foolproof security for the community.