QUETTA: The reports of a major terror bid foiled by security forces in Quetta turned out to be false after the recovered material was identified as harmless potassium chloride, DawnNews reported.

Security forces had earlier announced that a bid to smuggle a huge quantity of explosives into the provincial capital was foiled early on Sunday.

The material previously reported as explosives turned out to be urea which has no link with bomb making, according to DawnNews.

Other household items including shoes, pulses and blankets were recovered among the items falsely reported as explosives.

According to an FC official, Captain Jauhar,  security personnel had acted upon receiving a tip-off regarding suspected terrorists entering the city and intercepted a bus coming from Mastung.

Security forces had claimed to have recovered six to seven thousand kilograms of explosives upon conducting a search of the vehicle.

Five suspects were also taken into custody who were shifted to an undisclosed location for further questioning.