Off the wire
• China mulls rules for online news service  • 2nd LD: China reports better-than-expected trade data  • Air route opened between central China, Middle East  • Roundup: Iran confirms detention of 10 U.S. marines, Washington hopes for prompt return  • News Analysis: Economists see no basis for yuan's continued depreciation  • Roundup: Hong Kong chief executive announces Belt and Road organs  • Fish call each other to maintain group: New Zealand research  • President Rousseff encourages Brazilian women to report rapes, domestic violence  • Hong Kong to build a "smart city": chief executive  • Legislators abandon National Assembly in Venezuela after damning court ruling  
You are here: 　 Home

1st LD Writethru: 14 security personnel killed in SW Pakistan's bomb attack

Xinhua, January 13, 2016 Adjust font size:

At least 14 security personnel were killed and a dozen others injured when a blast hit Quetta city of Pakistan's southwest Balochistan province on Wednesday, officials said.

Home Minister of Balochistan Sarfraz Bugti confirmed that the blast killed 13 policemen and a paramilitary Frontier Corps man and also wounded 12 others, of which seven were critically injured.

But latest news said one civilian was also killed in the blast and the number of the injured people had risen to over 20.

However, there was no official confirmation about these reported casualties yet.

Local media quoted the Inspector General Police of Balochistan as saying the blast was of a suicide nature. An estimated 7 to 8 kg of explosives were used in the blast, said bomb disposal squad officials.

The explosion took place near a police vehicle parked close to a polio center in the satellite town of Quetta at about 10:00 a.m. local time (0500 GMT).

No group has claimed responsibility for the attack.

Both Pakistani President Mamnoon Hussain and Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif have condemned the blast. Sharif has directed the hospital authorities to provide best possible medical treatment to the injured people. Endit