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Pakistan: dozens dead as bomb hits mourners at Quetta hospital Pakistan: dozens dead as bomb hits mourners at Quetta hospital
(about 3 hours later)
Dozens of people have been killed and injured in a suicide bomb attack in the grounds of a government-run hospital in the south-western Pakistani city of Quetta. Dozens of people have been killed in a suicide bomb attack claimed by a Taliban faction in the grounds of a government-run hospital in the south-western Pakistani city of Quetta.
The blast happened 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. The blast happened 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.
Nearly 100 lawyers and other people had gathered at the hospital, and witnesses described horrifying scenes of bodies being scattered about and the wounded screaming out and crying for help. The death toll had risen to 63 by 4.05pm (11.05am GMT), according to hospital director Abdul Rehman, who also said 92 wounded people were being treated. Nearly 100 lawyers and other people had gathered at the hospital, and witnesses described horrifying scenes of bodies being scattered about and the wounded screaming out and crying for help. The death toll had risen to 63 by 4.05pm (11.05am GMT), according to the hospital director, Abdul Rehman, who also said 92 wounded people were being treated.
There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the blast, which struck at the gates of the building housing the emergency ward. Earlier, police mistakenly said the bomb struck the hospital’s main gate. Both attacks were claimed by Jamaat-ul-Ahrar, a group founded two years ago after a split within the fragmented movement known as the Pakistan Taliban. It had claimed responsibility for a bloody attack in Lahore in March that killed 75.
Related: Pakistani model Qandeel Baloch killed by brother after friends' taunts – mother Riaz Ahmed, 74, a lawyer, had gone to the hospital with an assistant and his nephew to find out what had happened to Kasi when the blast occurred.
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.
“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.“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.
“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.”“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.”
Another lawyer, Jameel Ahmed, 48, said he headed for the hospital as soon as he heard that Kasi, a friend, had been shot dead.Another lawyer, Jameel Ahmed, 48, said he headed for the hospital as soon as he heard that Kasi, a friend, had been shot dead.
“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 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.”“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. Local TV stations broadcast footage showing people running in panic around the hospital grounds after the blast, which struck at the gates of the building housing the emergency ward. A Pakistani news channel reported that one of its cameramen was among the dead.
“Even in times of war, no one attacks a hospital,” said Sanaullah Zehri, the chief minister in Baluchistan province, adding that the authorities would root out terrorists. “Even in times of war, no one attacks a hospital,” said Sanaullah Zehri, the chief minister in Balochistan province, 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 authorities in Balochistan to maintain vigilance and step up security. He said no one would be allowed to disturb the peace that “countless sacrifices” by the security forces, police and the people of Balochistan had worked so hard to restore.
He said no one would be allowed to disturb the peace that “countless sacrifices” by the security forces, police and the people of Baluchistan had worked so hard to restore.
Baluchistan province has long been hit by insurgency. There are several ethnic Baluch separatist groups operating in the resource-rich province, but al-Qaida and other militant groups also have a presence there.
Kasi, who had four children, had been the president of the Balochistan Bar Association since 2014 and ran his own law firm in Quetta.Kasi, who had four children, had been the president of the Balochistan Bar Association since 2014 and ran his own law firm in Quetta.
Several relatives who accompanied his body to the hospital were killed in the blast. “We have lost at least eight cousins. This is a tragic time for our family,” said Zarak Khan Kasi, a cousin.Several relatives who accompanied his body to the hospital were killed in the blast. “We have lost at least eight cousins. This is a tragic time for our family,” said Zarak Khan Kasi, a cousin.
The Associated Press contributed to this reportThe Associated Press contributed to this report