Twin suicide bombings kill 20 people in Pakistan
IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency
Islamabad, Sept 8, IRNA -- Two suicide bombers killed at least 20 people, including security men in Pakistani southwestern city of Quetta, Wednesday, a police officer and hospital sources said.
The bombers attacked the official residence of Deputy Inspector General of the paramilitary force ‘Frontier Corps’ (FC) in the highly guarded area of Quetta, capital of Balochistan Province.
Local TV channels reported that wife of the Deputy Inspector General Frontier Corps was killed in the attacks. Reports also said that the DIG FC Brig. Khuram Shehzad, too, was injured in the attacks. He is being treated at the military hospital.
Police said that three security men were among those killed.
Hospital sources said that 40 people were injured. Several of the injured victims were shifted to a military hospital.
A police officer, Hamid Shakil, told the media that one bomber exploded his explosives-laden car near the house of the FC officer and the other bomber entered the house his house while firing.
Witnesses said the bomber targeted guards at the official residence of the DIG FC to clear way for the other bomber to enter the house.
The FC personnel had also opened fire after the blast to stop the bomber from entering the house of the DIG Frontier Corps.
An official of the bomb disposal squad said that nearly 90 kilograms of explosives were used by the bomber in the car.
The blasts smashed glasses of nearby houses and destroyed several vehicles, witnesses said.
No group has claimed responsibility fore the attack. The authorities blame militants for the attacks on security personnel.
All main markets in Quetta were closed as the powerful blast created panic across the city.
Army and paramilitary forces arrived at the scene and block all roads to the attack site and kept the people away from the area.
The blast took place days after the Pakistan Army announced the security forces arrested a top al-Qaeda leader along with two other members from Quetta.
The US had praised the arrest of Younis al Mauritani, who was involved in planning and carrying out international operations, according to the Pakistan Army.
Two other senior al Qaeda operatives, Abdul Ghaffar al Shami (Bachar Chama) and Messara al Shami (Mujahid Amino) were also arrested along with al Mauritani.
Local media quoted security sources as saying that the attacks could be reaction to the arrest of the al-Qaeda leaders.
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Islamic Republic News Agency/IRNA NewsCode: 30553889
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