Watch: Bomb rips through Quetta Railway Station in Pakistan's Balochistan, killing over 20
A separatist group, the Balochistan Liberation Army, claimed the attack in a statement, saying a suicide bomber targeted troops present at the railway station. Videos posted on social media showed the moment the blast ripped through the crowd.
More than 20 people have been killed and over 50 others injured after a powerful blast rocked a railway station in Pakistan's restive Balochistan province. The explosion, suspected to be a suicide bomb blast, occurred at Quetta Railway Station early Saturday morning on the platform as passengers gathered for the departure of a train to the city of Peshawar.
CREDIT: REUTERS
Blast targeted passengers on platform
¡°Around 100 people were present at the railway station when the blast occurred. So far, 24 people have been confirmed dead while over 50 are injured. The blast occurred on the platform as passengers gathered for the departure of Jaffar Express. The train was to depart from Quetta to Peshawar,¡± said Quetta Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Operations, Mohammad Baloch.
Balochistan Liberation Army claims responsibility
A separatist group, the Balochistan Liberation Army, claimed the attack in a statement, saying a suicide bomber targeted troops present at the railway station.
"This morning, a Fidayee attack was carried out on a Pakistani army unit at Quetta Railway Station as they were returning via Jaffar Express after completing a course at the Infantry School. The attack was executed by the BLA¡¯s Fidayee unit, Majeed Brigade," the BLA, which has been declared a terrorist organisation in Pakistan, said.
Breaking News: Baloch Liberation Army takes responsibility of #Quetta attack
¡ª Bahot | ????? (@bahot_baluch) November 9, 2024
We claim responsibility for the fidayee attack on Pakistani army at Quetta Railway Station - BLA
This morning, a Fidayee attack was carried out on a Pakistani army unit at Quetta Railway Station as¡ pic.twitter.com/Pz4yAQfDos
Videos show devastation at Quetta Railway Station
Videos posted on social media showed the moment the blast ripped through the crowd.
TKD MONITORING: The surveillance footage at the platform in Quetta shows, a large number of people at the platform including women, children and security personnel moments before the explosion took place. pic.twitter.com/Riu1lFOdFq
¡ª The Khorasan Diary (@khorasandiary) November 9, 2024
Other videos posted on social media also showed the aftermath of the blast.
A heartbreaking blast at Quetta Railway Station has left 5 dead and over 30 injured. The explosion occurred as passengers of the Jaffer Express, heading to Peshawar, were at the station.
¡ª Dukhtar-E-Balochistan?? (@Dukhtar_B) November 9, 2024
These terrorists have sunk so low that they now target innocent lives .
No religion or¡ pic.twitter.com/IVmNwtfqsA
*?????? ??????
¡ª jameel Khan Kakar (@jameel37371) November 9, 2024
*16 ????? ???????
#Quetta pic.twitter.com/fFlnwbbiIz
Insurgency in Balochistan
Balochistan, which is Pakistan's largest province, has witnessed a long-running separatist insurgency by Baloch militant groups, who often target Pakistani military and civilian infrastructure there.
Recently, at least five children were among the nine people killed, along with 17 others injured, when a roadside bomb targeting a vehicle of security forces assigned to protect polio health workers exploded in Mastung district of Balochistan.
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Bobins Abraham is the Assistant News Editor at Indiatimes. He has more than twelve years of experience in TV and digital journalism. An avid student of history and geopolitics, he is a conservationist and environmentalist at heart. He writes on environment, sustainability, human-animal conflict and more.
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