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1st LD Writethru: 7 killed, 17 injured as blast hits Pakistan's southwest city of Quetta

Xinhua, February 6, 2016 Adjust font size:

At least seven people were killed and 17 others injured as a blast hit a security forces' convoy in Pakistan's southwest city of Quetta on Saturday afternoon, local Urdu TV channel Neo reported.

The killed include three personnel of paramilitary forces Frontier Corps and eight FC men were also injured in the blast, said the report.

All the blast victims have been shifted to hospitals where four to five injured people are said to be in critical condition.

The blast happened at about 4:20 p.m. local time when a convoy of security forces passing by a local court on the Jinnah Road of Quetta City was hit by a bomb, said local media, adding that at least three vehicles were damaged in the explosion.

Bomb disposal squad has been called in to determine the nature of the blast, reports said.

Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif have condemned the attack shortly after the blast.

No group has claimed responsibility for the attack yet.

The blast took place at a time when a four-nation talks on Afghan peace process is being held in the country's capital of Islamabad.

The talks are aimed at bringing the Taliban to the negotiation tables with the Afghan government. Endit