Friday, March 29, 2024

Quetta blast was a suicide attack, says Sheikh Rasheed

Quetta blast was a suicide attack, says Sheikh Rasheed
April 22, 2021

ISLAMABAD (92 News) - Minister for Interior Sheikh Rasheed has said the Quetta blast was a suicide attack, adding that the main attacker was sitting inside a car parked at the hotel.

While briefing regarding to the journalists, the minister said that there was 60 to 80 kilogrammes of explosives in the vehicle. "The Frontier Corps (FC) troops are not being withdrawn from Quetta following the explosion at Serena Hotel which claimed five lives Wednesday night," he maintained.

Sheikh Rasheed claimed that the attack was planned by the people who are against the country’s progress. "Our enemies are planning to destabilise the country because they can’t stand Pakistan’s progress. We can’t condemn the attack enough,” he added.

Earlier, at least five people were killed and 12 others injured in a blast at Quetta near Balochsitan Assembly's Chowk Wednesday night.

According to the reports, the blast took place in the parking lot of a private hotel located at Quetta’s Jinnah road near Serena Chowk.

The blast was caused when explosive material, fitted inside a car was detonated. Multiple vehicles parked in the area caught fire after the blast. A fire erupts and smoke can be seen everywhere in the parking lot of the hotel after the explosion.

Rescue teams reached the spot and shifted the injured persons to hospitals. A fire brigade immediately arrived at the parking area to douse the flames. Firefighters were able to extinguish the fire and a cooling process is currently underway.

Meanwhile, police and Frontier Corps personnel also reached the spot and cordoned off the area. On the other hand, Balochistan Chief Minister Jam Kamal has condemned the blast and summoned a report from authorities concerned.

In a tweet, Prime Minister Imran Khan has condemned the cowardly terrorist attack in Quetta.

 

"I am deeply saddened by the loss of innocent lives in the condemnable and cowardly terrorist attack in Quetta yesterday. Our nation has made great sacrifices in defeating terrorism and we will not to allow this scourge to rise again. We remain alert to all internal and external threats," he maintained.