Suicide attack on policeman's funeral in Quetta kills 38.
AGENCIES and DAWN.COM
QUETTA: A suicide blast at the funeral of a slain police officer in Quetta killed 38 people on Wednesday, including at least three senior police officials.
At least 38 people have been killed and more than 50 injured, said senior police official Mohammad Tariq. Most of the dead and injured are policemen, he added. Several of the wounded were said to be in critical condition.
According to television reports, the bomb exploded outside a mosque where the funeral procession of station house officer Mohibullah was being held.
The bomb went off as senior officers prepared to offer prayers for their colleague. Police sources told DawnNews that the bomb, which appeared to have been exploded by a suicide bomber, contained between eight to 10 kilograms of explosive material.
The injured were shifted to the Civil Hospital and the Combined Military Hospital.
Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Police Operations Fayyaz Sumbal, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Headquarters Shamsuddin and Superintendent Ali Mehr were confirmed to be among the senior police officials killed in the bombing.
The blast was the second targeted attack on Thursday on police personnel in the provincial capital, which has been under high security the entire day. SHO Mohibullah was shot dead by unknown gunmen earlier this morning in Killi Almo area while he was reportedly taking his family for Eid shopping.
Eyewitnesses said fear and chaos spread among the people attending the funeral following the loud explosion.
All my colleagues are gone. The DSP, SP, DIG
theyre all gone, said one emotional eyewitness reduced to tears. It was still unclear exactly how many senior police officials had died.
No militant group has yet claimed responsibility for the bombing, one of the worst targeted attacks on police personnel in the violence-hit provincial capital.
This is a developing story and will be updated as further reports come in.
Suicide attack on policeman's funeral in Quetta kills 38 - DAWN.COM