21 killed, 30 injured in railway station blast in Pakistan
At least 21 people were killed and 30 injured in an explosion at the Quetta railway station in southwestern Pakistan on Saturday, Pakistani news channels reported. The blast took place on the platform as passengers were preparing to board the Jaffer Express bound for Peshawar. The explosion reportedly happened inside the railway station's booking office just before the train's arrival. Quetta Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Operations Mohammad Baloch said around 100 people were present at the time.
Investigation underway, suicide bombing suspected
Confirming the death toll, Inspector General Moazzam Jah Ansari said "the death toll has reached 17," adding that it might go up further. SSP Baloch said it "might be a suicide bombing," however, the exact nature of the explosion is still being investigated. Balochistan government spokesperson Shahid Rind also said that the nature of the blast is being probed as the Bomb Disposal Squad collects evidence from the scene.
Bomb disposal squad collects evidence, no group claims responsibility
An emergency has been declared in hospitals there, according to the government official, who also added that the "injured were being provided with medical aid." Balochistan's Chief Minister Sarfaraz Bugti has condemned the attack and vowed to eliminate terrorism in the region. The Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), an outfit fighting for independence of Balochistan province, has claimed responsibility for the Quetta attack.
