Dozens killed in suicide bombing at train station in south-western Pakistan
A suicide bomber at a Quetta train station discharged an explosive which blew apart the station's roof and scattered luggage.
In short:
A suicide bombing attack at a train station in south-western Pakistan on Saturday has killed at least 26 people and wounded about 50 others, officials say.
A suicide bomber exploded an explosive device as nearly 100 passengers waited on a platform in Quetta for a train headed for the city of Rawalpindi.
The Balochistan Liberation Army separatist group has claimed responsibility for the attack.
A suicide bombing attack at a train station in south-western Pakistan has killed at least 26 people and wounded about 50 others, officials say.
As nearly 100 passengers on a platform in Quetta awaited a train headed for the garrison city of Rawalpindi on Saturday, a suicide bomber discharged an explosive which blew apart the train station's roof, destroyed a nearby tea stall and scattered luggage amongst the debris.
Quetta's Sandeman Provincial Hospital spokesperson said 26 people had died due to the blast so far.
He said those killed included 14 soldiers and 12 civilians.
At the hospital, Mohammed Irfan had to identify two of his relatives killed in the bombing.
"As we woke up we found out there was an explosion," he said.
"Then we discovered that my uncle and another relative had gone to have tea at the station."
The suicide bombing attack killed at least 26 people and wounded about 50 others.
Forty-six members of the security forces and 14 civilians were wounded, the hospital spokesperson added.
Police added some of the critically wounded passengers had died in hospital, raising the death toll.
Mohammed Oumer, who was injured in the blast, said he went to the station to get a train home to his village.
"But just as we arrived, there was the explosion and I found myself wounded and in hospital," he said.
Inspector general of police in the Balochistan province, Mouzzam Jah Ansari, said the bomber was likely targeting "army personnel from the Infantry School" at the busy railway station.
The Balochistan Liberation Army separatist group claimed responsibility for the attack in a statement, confirming a suicide bomber targeted troops present at the railway station.
Police said some critically wounded passengers had died in hospital.
A senior superintendent of police operations, Muhammad Baloch, said separatists frequently attacked soft targets.
"When their people are arrested, they also attack in retaliation," he said.
"We all have to fight this war. We are resilient. Our teams are here and trying to save as many lives as we can."
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif denounced the bombing in a statement, saying those who orchestrated the attack "will pay a very heavy price for it" and adding that security forces were determined to eliminate "the menace of terrorism".
Pakistan is grappling with a surge in strikes by separatist militants in its Balochistan province in the south and Islamist militants in its north-west.
Pakistan is grappling with a surge in strikes by separatist militants in its Balochistan province.
The outlawed BLA has long waged an insurgency seeking independence from Islamabad.
The decades-old insurgency has destabilised Balochistan and created security concerns for projects trying to access the province's untapped resources.
The BLA is the biggest of several ethnic insurgent groups battling the government, saying it unfairly exploits the province's rich gas and mineral resources.
At least 73 people were killed in Balochistan in August after separatist militants attacked police stations, railway lines and highways.
ABC/wires
By：ABC(责任编辑：admin)
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