QUETTA, Pakistan- On Friday, 13 people were killed and 20 injured at a blast in a mosque in Quetta, southwestern Pakistan, according to police.
According to the police, the mosque had been planted with an improvised explosive device. The mosque is located inside a seminary in the city, Balochistan province’s capital, bordering Afghanistan and Iran.
This is the second bombing in Quetta this week and it exploded during Friday’s evening prayers.
Dr Wasim Baig, a local hospital spokesman said that 13 bodies and 20 injured were brought in and that the injured people were in a serious condition.
Haji Amanullah, a senior police officer was among the dead and his son was killed last month by unknown people.
A Pakistani military spokesman said that a search operation was being conducted by paramilitary troops around the site.
Balochistan is a mineral and gas-rich city located in the heart of the $60 billion China Pakistan Economic Corridor, a part of China’s Belt and Road infrastructure project.
Violence in the area has raised concerns about project security especially pertaining to the planned energy link from Western China to the port of Gwadar.
(Photos syndicated via Reuters)
This story has been edited by BH staff and is published from a syndicated field.