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Pakistan: at least 30 dead as bomb targets mourners at Quetta hospital Pakistan: dozens dead as bomb hits mourners at Quetta hospital
(35 minutes later)
A powerful bomb has exploded on the grounds of a government-run hospital in the south-western Pakistani city of Quetta, killing at least 30 people and wounding dozens, police said. A powerful bomb has exploded in the grounds of a government-run hospital in the south-western Pakistani city of Quetta, killing at least 42 people and wounding dozens, police said.
The blast took place shortly after the body of a prominent lawyer killed in a shooting attack earlier in the day was brought to the hospital, said a senior police official, Zahoor Ahmed Afridi. It was unclear if the two events were in any way connected. The blast took place shortly after the body of a prominent lawyer killed in a shooting attack earlier in the day was brought to the hospital, said a senior police official, Zahoor Ahmed Afridi. It was unclear if the two events were connected.
Nearly 100 lawyers and other people had gathered there at the time, he added. There were fears the death toll will rise. Nearly 100 lawyers and other people had gathered there, he added. There were fears that the death toll will rise.
No one immediately claimed responsibility for the blast, which struck at the gates of the building housing the emergency ward, on the hospital grounds. Earlier, police had mistakenly said the bomb struck the hospital’s main gate. There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the blast, which struck at the gates of the building housing the emergency ward. Earlier, police had mistakenly said the bomb struck the hospital’s main gate.
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Anwalullah Kakar, the government spokesman in south-western Baluchistan province, said an investigation is underway. Sarfraz Bugti, the provincial interior minister, denounced the attack as an “act of terrorism”. Sanaullah Zehri, the chief minister in Baluchistan province, said it appeared to be a suicide attack but police were still investing.
A Pakistani news channel reported that one of its cameramen was also killed in the blast. Sarfraz Bugti, the provincial interior minister, denounced the attack as an “act of terrorism”.
It was also unknown who was behind the killing of the lawyer, Bilal Kasi, who was gunned down on his way to court earlier in the day. A Pakistani news channel reported that one of its cameramen was among the dead.
It was also unknown who was behind the killing of the lawyer, Bilal Kasi, who was gunned down on his way to court.
Local TV stations broadcast footage showing people running in panic around the hospital grounds. Afridi said most of the dead were lawyers who had gathered after Kasi’s body was brought to the hospital.Local TV stations broadcast footage showing people running in panic around the hospital grounds. Afridi said most of the dead were lawyers who had gathered after Kasi’s body was brought to the hospital.
Pakistan’s prime minister, Nawaz Sharif, denounced the attack and expressed his “deep grief and anguish over the loss of precious human lives”.
He instructed local authorities in Baluchistan to maintain utmost vigilance and step up security. Sharif also asked health workers to provide the best treatment possible to those wounded in the attack.
He said that no one would be allowed to disturb the peace which “countless sacrifices” by the “security forces, police and the people of Baluchistan” have worked so hard to restore.