QUETTA: At least 23 people, including an official of the Frontier Corps and DIG Frontier Corp’s wife, were killed and more than 50 others wounded in twin suicide attacks outside the residence of the DIG Frontier Corps near the Commissioner Office early Wednesday. “The first blast occurred at 8.58 a.m. and the second after a gap of five minutes in the Civil Lines area of the city,” said a police official. The blasts killed at least 23 people and left over 50 others, including some FC men critically injured, he added.
The explsions were of such intensity that the windowpanes of nearby dozens of buildings smashed.As a result of the blasts and firing the wife of DIG FC and Col. Khalid of FC also died, while DIG FC Brig. Farukah Shehzad sustained injuries.One of the suicide bombers rammed a car carrying explosives into an FC vehicle parked outside the DIG FC’s House, while another entered the house and started shooting the inmates and later blew himself up, a police official said.Three security men were burnt alive as a result of the suicide attack targeting the FC official residence and security personnel.Soon after the blast, police and FC officials reached the site and shifted the victims to the civil hospital Quetta and Combined Military Hospital, while the bomb disposal squad and fire brigade also reached the spot.
The head and legs of the alleged suicide bomber were sent to a laboratory for the forensic report.According to a Civil Defense official, about 100 kg explosives were used in the twin blasts. The Civil Lines falls in a red zone area of the provincial capital due to the presence of Governor House, Chief Minister Secretariat and DIG FC House, while many other official buildings and offices are also located in the same area.Emergency was declared in all hospitals of the provincial capital.The law enforcers have started search to track down the suspects. – APP
