UN chief strongly condemns Quetta blast

NEW YORK: United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres has strongly condemned yesterday’s attack in Quetta that killed at least 20 people, including security personnel and children.

According to a UN spokesman, Guterres was shocked and he strongly condemned this cowardly act and extended his condolences to the families of the victims and to the government and people of Pakistan.

The United Nations expressed its fully solidarity with the government of Pakistan in its fight against terrorism and violent extremism, he added.

At least 20 people, security personnel and children among them, were killed and 48 others wounded in a suicide attack at the Hazarganji fruit and vegetable market in Quetta on Friday morning.

The deceased included eight members of the Hazara community and soldier of the paramilitary Frontier Corps (FC).

Read More: 20 dead, several injured in blast at Quetta’s Hazarganji

Balochistan Home Minister Zia Langove said the vegetable vendors belonging to the ethnic Haraza community were the target. “A suicide bomber detonated his explosive laded vest inside the vegetable marker,” he said.

Smoke cloaked the market as body parts littered the scene after the blast.

A heavy contingent of law enforcement agencies rushed to the scene and shifted the bodies to Civil Hospital and Bolan Medical Complex.