15 martyred, several injured as blast hits mosque in Quetta

QUETTA: At least 15 people were martyred including Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Ammanullah and scores injured after a blast occurred at a mosque located in Quetta’s Satellite Town area, ARY News reported on Friday.

According to police, the blast occurred during Magrib prayers inside a mosque, leaving 15 people martyred including  DSP Amanullah and a mosque imam.

As per the reports, the nature of the blast which occurred in Satellite Town, Ishaqabad was not immediately clear. Rescue teams reached the site and shifted the injured to Civil Hospital Quetta and other hospitals of the city.

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The area has been cordoned off by law enforcement agencies (LEAs) and investigations and relief efforts are underway.

‘PM Imran, COAS Bajwa condemn Quetta blast’

Prime Minister Imran Khan and Chief of Army Staff have condemned the blast and prayed for the early recovery of the injured. PM Imran has sought a report from authorities.

According to Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the Frontier Corps (FC) Balochistan troops reached the Quetta blast site while a joint search operation with police is underway.

“Every possible assistance be given to police and civil administration. Those who targeted innocents in a mosque can never be true Muslim,” said ISPR as quoting COAS Bajwa.

FC Bln troops reached Qta blast site. Area cordoned off. Joint search operation with police in progress.Injured being evacuated to hosp.
“Every possible assistance be given to police & civil administration. Those who targeted innocents in a mosque can never be true Muslim”, COAS.

— DG ISPR (@OfficialDGISPR) January 10, 2020

The blast occurred three days after an explosion reported in the vicinity of Mekangi road, Liaquat Bazar area of Quetta on Thursday, leaving 2 dead and 18 people injured. The explosion occurred on the outskirts of the road where a vehicle in use of law enforcement was parked.

Sources privy to the relief and rescue operation in the area revealed that 18 injured have thus far been shifted to the civil hospital and various other healthcare facilities for emergency treatment, the injured include two security officials.

Read more: One killed, 13 injured as twin blasts hit Quetta 

Hospital sources have confirmed two fatalities due to what is now being said to be a calculated attack to target a security vehicle parked on the premises of the bazaar.

The bomb was placed inside or attached on the outside of a motorbike which was parked at the populace marketplace.