Suicide blasts in Pakistan kill 23
By Rizwan Khatik - Thu Sep 08, 3:12 am
ISLAMABAD: Following arrest of one of top ranking operatives of Al-Qaeda in Balochistan Younus Al-Mauritani, the global terrorist group bounced back in Quetta, capital of Balochistan, killing 23 people and injuring 40 others in twin suicide blasts at the residence of DIG Frontier Constabulary (FC) Quetta on Wednesday.
The security sources said that DIG, FC Farrukh Shahzad was the target of the suicide bombers who survived with injuries in the blast.
According to security sources two suicide bombers targeted the residence of DIG FC located in Civil Lines area near commissioner office. The first suicide bomber with explosives laden vehicle hit an FC vehicle while the other opened indiscriminate firing and barged into residence of DIG FC Brig. Farrukh Shahzad and blew himself up.
The two suicide blasts caused massive losses. An FC vehicle was destroyed completely and caught fire. While in the second suicide blast residence of DIG FC was damaged.
The deceased included wife of DIG FC Brig. Farrukh Shahzad, Col. Khalid, FC personnel and passersby. A child was also among the people killed in the blast.
A heavy contingent of police, FC and other security agencies reached the scene and started rescue activities. DIG FC Brig Farrukh Shahzad and FC personnel were among the injured. The injured were taken to Combined Military Hospital (CMH) and Civil Hospital Quetta where, according to hospital sources, condition of several injured people was serious and it was feared that the death toll may rise further.
Security sources said that both blasts were of high intensity. Windowpanes of the nearby buildings were smashed due to the blast and several vehicles parked nearby by the site were destroyed completely.
DIG Operations has confirmed that both attacks were suicide. Director Civil Defense Saleh Muhammad Nasir said that explosives used in both suicide blasts was of different kinds and material used in one of the suicide blasts had never been used in blasts that took place in the past. At least 100 kg of explosives was used in the blast to target the FC vehicle.
Meanwhile, President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani, Balochistan Gov. Zulfiqar Ali Magsi and Chief Minister Raisani have strongly condemned the suicide attacks. They said that terrorists through such cowardly acts cannot weaken the government resolve and stance to wipe out terrorism and extremism.
