- Terrorists strike policeman’s funeral in Quetta, DIG, DSP, SSP among 30 killed in massive attack
Tragedy struck the troubled capital of violence-marred Balochistan province on Thursday when a suicide bombing ripped through a funeral congregation arranged for a police officer and his family at Police Lines.
DIG Operations Fayyaz Sumbal was among at least 30 policemen killed in the massive bombing, which left more than 50 others severely injured. Several of the wounded were said to be in critical condition.
The blast took place just before the funeral prayers of SHO City Mohibullah commenced at the Police Lines mosque. He was killed and his four children and driver injured in a firing incident in Alamu Chowk.
Around 300 to 400 people, including DIG Operations Fayyaz Sumbal, Balochistan IG and Quetta CCPO, were in attendance at the funeral.
While the DIG operations was killed on the spot, the IGP and CCPO survived the attack.
The injured were rushed to CivilHospital and CMH Quetta.
An eyewitness said the deceased included SSP and DSP-level officials, while sources said SP Anwar and DSP Headquarters Shams were among the dead.
Police sources said the explosion, which appeared to be a suicide blast, contained between eight to 10 kilogrammes of explosives.
The blast was the second targeted attack on Thursday on police personnel in the provincial capital, which has been under high security the entire day.
SHO Mohibullah was shot dead by unknown gunmen earlier in the morning in Killi Almo area while he was reportedly taking his family for Eid shopping.
Eyewitnesses said fear and chaos spread among the people in attendance at the funeral following the loud explosion.
“All my colleagues are gone. The DSP, SP, DIG… they’re all gone,” said one emotional official reduced to tears.
It was unclear how many senior police officials were killed as authorities were yet to determine and disclose the identities of all victims.
No militant group has yet claimed responsibility for the bombing, which was one of the worst attacks on police personnel in the violence-hit provincial capital.
