A suicide bombing incident occurred at a train station in Quetta, southwestern Pakistan, on Saturday, November 9th, resulting in at least 24 deaths and dozens of injuries.
The exact number of casualties from this incident has not been finalized. Different media outlets have reported varying death tolls. According to Reuters, at least 24 people died and over 40 were injured; the Associated Press reported at least 26 deaths, with approximately 62 injured, some critically; while CNN reported at least 25 deaths and 53 injuries.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the bombing attack in a statement, stating that those behind the attack “will pay a very heavy price for this.”
Senior Police Chief Muhammad Baloch stated that the explosion appeared to be caused by a suicide bomb and that investigations are ongoing to gather more information.
“The blast occurred inside the train station as the express train bound for Peshawar was about to depart for its destination,” Baloch added.
Senior government official Hamza Shafqaat mentioned that around 100 passengers were waiting at the Quetta train station to travel to Rawalpindi, a military city, when the attack took place.
When asked about the security loopholes that led to the explosion, Shafqaat told reporters that “such suicide attacks are usually difficult to prevent.”
Shahid Nawaz, responsible for the security of the Quetta train station, stated that the attacker disguised himself as a passenger and detonated the bomb among the crowd at the station.
Health Department spokesperson Wasim Baig mentioned that among the deceased at the station were over a dozen soldiers and six railway employees. He also noted that while the station was equipped with a gate to check for explosives, several other entrances did not have such security measures.
Television footage showed the steel structure of the platform roof at the train station destroyed, tea stalls damaged, and luggage scattered around. Most of the victims were taken to state-owned hospitals, with some transported to military hospitals.
Mouzzam Jah Ansari, the Police Chief of Balochistan Province, stated that “the target of the attack was military personnel from an infantry school.” Many of the injured are in critical condition.
The Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), an armed separatist group in Pakistan, claimed responsibility for the attack, stating that the target of a suicide bomber was the troops inside the train station.
Authorities reported that some passengers with severe injuries succumbed in hospitals, leading to an increase in the death toll.
(The article draws reference from reports by the Associated Press and Reuters.)