26 dead, dozens injured in suspected suicide blast at Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: 26 killed in blast at railway station in Pakistan. More than fifty people were injured. The blast took place at the Quetta railway station in Balochistan. The blast occurred when the train was about to depart for Peshawar.

About 100 people were present at the time of the incident. Quetta SSP Mohammad Baloch said that there was information that it was a terrorist attack and a suicide attack. He also informed that an investigation has been started in the incident. Balochistan government spokesperson Shahid Rind stated that the police and security forces have reached the spot. A bomb disposal squad is checking the area. He added that the death toll is likely to rise as many of the injured are in critical condition.

Balochistan is the largest and poorest province of Pakistan. There are also reports that this is the center of activities of terrorists. Militants have previously targeted foreign-funded energy projects in the region. There are indications that the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), a terrorist organization, is behind the attack. The BLA has earlier claimed responsibility for attacks on security forces and attacks on Pakistanis from other provinces. The BLA also claimed responsibility for an attack last August that killed 39 people.