A suicide bombing in a Pakistani province has killed 24 people and injured dozens
A bomb blast hit the Pakistani city of Quetta on Sunday morning, killing at least 24 people and injuring 70, according to officials.
A senior official in Balochistan province told CBS News that the explosion was serious and the number of dead and injured could rise.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif called the attack an “act of terrorism” on social media. Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti said on social media that “innocent people, including women and children, have been killed”.
A major explosion occurred near the railway line in Faquir Abad area around 8:00 am local time and caused panic in nearby areas. Witnesses said the powerful explosion shook buildings, shattered windows and ignited a fire that burned parts of the passenger train. The Associated Press said that the explosion occurred in an area where security forces are often stationed.
Arshad Butt via AP
The Minister of Railways in Pakistan, Hanif Abbasi, said that the explosion damaged the engine and three coaches of the train. Two other coaches overturned, he said. Images show thick black smoke billowing from the scene. Soldiers and volunteers were photographed trying to pull the victims from the accident.
The Associated Press described the incident as a suicide bombing. A government investigation into the attack is ongoing.
Resident Aziz Khan told CBS News that many people were waiting at the train station when the explosion occurred. He said his house “rocked from the explosion” and there was “a very, very loud noise.”
“Many people (died) on the spot due to the intensity of the explosion,” said Khan. “Gas cylinders exploded in parked cars.”
Arshad Butt via AP 
The Balochistan Liberation Army, a group based in Afghanistan, claimed responsibility for the attack. The BLA believes that Balochistan should be an independent state, and its own attacks are often targeted civilians, soldiers and police. The US State Department has designated the BLA as a foreign terrorist organization.
Quetta is the capital of Balochistan province. The largest but least populated oil and mineral rich province in Pakistan, it is home to the country’s Baloch minority. Islamic militias also operate within the province.
The BLA has taken credit for several bloody attacks in the region. In February, coordinated suicide and gun attacks what the group does 18 people and 15 security guards were killed. A suicide bombing at a train station the same region killed at least 26 people, including soldiers and railway workers, in 2024.
