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2nd LD Writethru: 15 killed as blast targets anti-polio drive in SW Pakistan

Xinhua, January 13, 2016 Adjust font size:

At least 14 security personnel and one civilian were killed and 25 others injured when a blast targeted an anti-polio drive in Quetta city of Pakistan's southwest Balochistan province on Wednesday.

Home Minister of Balochistan Sarfraz Bugti confirmed that the blast killed 13 policemen and a paramilitary Frontier Corps man.

Local Urdu TV channel Express reported that a civilian is also among the killed.

Talking to media, Deputy Inspector General Police of Balochistan Syed Imtiaz Shah said the blast was of a suicide nature and an estimated 7 to 8 kg of explosives were used in it.

He said the attack happened near a polio office and the bomber targeted the security personnel who were providing security to the staff in a three-day anti-polio campaign launched in the Balochistan province on Monday.

A total of 2.4 million children including over 55,000 children of Afghan refugees under the age of five had to be immunized under the campaign, he added.

Shah said the campaign in Quetta has been suspended following the blast.

The injured people, including nine policemen, have been shifted to hospital where at least seven of them are in critical condition, he added.

The blast happened in Satellite Town of Quetta at about 10:00 a.m. local time (0500 GMT).

No group has claimed responsibility for the attack yet.

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. Enditem