This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/aug/08/pakistan-dozens-feared-dead-as-bomb-targets-mourners-at-hospital

The article has changed 13 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 4 Version 5
Pakistan: dozens dead as bomb hits mourners at Quetta hospital Pakistan: dozens dead as bomb hits mourners at Quetta hospital
(35 minutes later)
Dozens of people have been killed and injured in a bomb attack in the grounds of a government-run hospital in the south-western Pakistani city of Quetta.Dozens of people have been killed and injured in a bomb attack in the grounds of a government-run hospital in the south-western Pakistani city of Quetta.
The blast took place shortly after the body of a prominent lawyer, killed in a shooting 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. The blast took place shortly after the body of Bilal Kasi, a prominent lawyer who was killed in a shooting earlier in the day, was brought to the hospital. It was unclear if the two events were connected.
Nearly 100 lawyers and other people had gathered there, he added. The death toll has risen throughout the day, reaching 53 at 1.25pm (8.25am GMT), according to a hospital official. Nearly 100 lawyers and other people had gathered there. The death toll has risen throughout the day, reaching 53 at 1.25pm (8.25am GMT), according to hospital and police officials.
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.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.
Related: Pakistani model Qandeel Baloch killed by brother after friends' taunts – motherRelated: Pakistani model Qandeel Baloch killed by brother after friends' taunts – mother
Sanaullah Zehri, the chief minister in Baluchistan province, said it appeared to be a suicide attack but police were still investing. Riaz Ahmed, a 74-year-old lawyer, had gone to the hospital with an assistant and his nephew to find out what had happened to Kasi when the blast occurred.
The provincial interior minister denounced the attack as an “act of terrorism”. “I was near a wall and I fell down,” he said. “The wall protected me. My assistant and my nephew are injured and being treated. It was a miracle that I survived.
A Pakistani news channel reported that one of its cameramen was among the dead. “There was chaos after the blast, with body parts lying everywhere. It is hard to recognise the victims. Many of the injured are quite critical. Most of the dead are prominent lawyers.”
It was also unknown who was behind the killing of the lawyer, Bilal Kasi, who was gunned down on his way to court. Another lawyer, 48-year-old Jameel Ahmed, said he headed for the hospital as soon as he heard that Kasi, a friend, had been shot dead.
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. “I heard a loud blast, then a colleague of mine called me from hospital,” he said. “I have lost so many friends in a single attack. This is horrific. Many of those who have died were with me last night. We had dinner together and now they are all dead.
“I think the terrorists planned it so – they knew that lawyers would gather in large numbers at the hospital after the killing of Kasi, and so they sent a bomber to attack.”
Local TV stations broadcast footage showing people running in panic around the hospital grounds. A Pakistani news channel reported that one of its cameramen was among the dead.
Sanaullah Zehri, the chief minister in Baluchistan province, said it appeared to be a suicide attack but police were still investigating. “Even in times of war, no one attacks a hospital,” he said in a televised address, adding that the authorities would root out terrorists.
Pakistan’s prime minister, Nawaz Sharif, denounced the attack and expressed his “deep grief and anguish over the loss of precious human lives”.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 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. He said no one would be allowed to disturb the peace which “countless sacrifices” by the security forces, police and the people of Baluchistan had worked so hard to restore.
The Associated Press contributed to this report