- Two explosion
s have killed dozens of people in Pakistan. - The first blast struck a procession to celebrate the birthday of Prophet Muhammad in Mastung, Balochistan province, killing at least 52 people.
- At least five people have also been reported killed in an explosion at a mosque in Hangu, in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.
- There have been no claims of responsibility so far.
Investigators examine site of religious procession blast
Security officials are combing the site of the suicide bomb blast in Mastung.
Pakistan blasts live news: Twin explosions kill dozens of worshippers
Pakistan bombing
People gather at a hospital in Quetta where the victims are being treated
Two explosions have killed dozens of people in Pakistan.
The first blast struck a procession to celebrate the birthday of Prophet Muhammad in Mastung, Balochistan province, killing at least 52 people.
At least five people have also been reported killed in an explosion at a mosque in Hangu, in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.
There have been no claims of responsibility so far.
Security officials examine the site of a suicide bomb attack targeting a procession marking the birthday of Islam's Prophet Mohammed in Mastung
[AFP]
Security officials examine the site of a suicide bomb attack targeting a procession marking the birthday of Islam's Prophet Mohammed in Mastung
[AFP]
Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan denies carrying out attacks
The outlawed group Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) has issued a statement distancing itself from the two bomb attacks in Pakistan’s northwestern and southwestern provinces.
Police chief confirms Mastung blast was a suicide attack
Balochistan’s Police Chief Abdul Khaliq Shaikh says the explosion near the procession of Eid Milad-ul-Nabi in Mastung was a suicide attack.
Shaikh said in a statement that a police official, Nawaz Gishkori, sacrificed his life trying to stop the suicide attacker.
The police chief added that three other police were also injured.
Shaikh also said the aim of armed groups is to create unrest and instability in Balochistan and ordered the police to take full action against the elements involved in the blast and those who supported them.
The TTP, also known as Pakistani Taliban, condemned the two attacks and called the loss of lives “tragic”.
“The goals of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan are clear. Mosques, seminaries, schools and public gatherings are not among our targets. We have nothing to do with today’s two blasts and we strongly condemn them,” the statement from the TTP’s spokesperson Muhammad Khorasani read.
“We now have five confirmed casualties, while another six critically injured have been transferred to hospital,” Bilal Faizi, the spokesperson for Rescue 1122, told Al Jazeera.
He added that heavy machinery is being used to remove the debris of the roof from the mosque which collapsed.
Many people are still feared trapped under the rubble.
