QUETTA: Security personnel and volunteers arrive at the site of the explosion.—AFP
QUETTA: Security personnel and volunteers arrive at the site of the explosion.—AFP

QUETTA: At least four people, including two private security guards, were killed and 12 others suffered injuries in a bomb blast that occurred in the parking lot of Serena Hotel here on Wednesday night.

The injured include two assistant commissioners who were immediately shifted to the civil hospital with other wounded people. Hotel officials said all guests staying in the hotel were safe. However, they added, some employees of the hotel were missing.

The banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan claimed responsibility for the blast as its spokesman said: “Our suicide bomber used his explosive-laden car for the blast.”

Police said initial investigation revealed that an explosive device was planted in a car which was parked in the hotel’s parking area.

Taliban claim their suicide bomber carried out the attack

After the explosion, several vehicles caught fire and at least seven cars were gutted. Windowpanes of the nearby Balochistan Assembly, Balochistan High Court and other buildings were smashed due to the impact of the blast.

Fire brigade immediately reached the hotel and brought the fire under control after an hour of effort.

Addressing media reports about the Chinese ambassador being the apparent target of the attack, home minister Ziaullah Langove said that the ambassador was not present at the hotel when the explosion occurred.

“I have just met the Chinese ambassador and he is in high spirits,” he said, adding that investigation would ascertain the target.

Talking to journalists, Deputy Inspector General of Quetta police said: “We are investigating the nature of the blast. The Bomb Disposal Squad and Counter-Terrorism Department have sealed the site of the blast for investigation and are collecting evidences.”

One of the dead was identified as Asadullah Khan.

The injured included Ejaz Ahmed, Bilal Shabbir, Attaullah, Raja Tahir, Irfan Ahmed, Abdul Hameed, Mohammad Noor, Wazir Ahmed, Bilal Qadir, Khuda Bakhsh and Muzamil Khan.

Published in Dawn, April 22nd, 2021

Opinion

Editorial

PTI in disarray
Updated 30 Nov, 2024

PTI in disarray

PTI’s protest plans came abruptly undone because key decisions were swayed by personal ambitions rather than political wisdom and restraint.
Tired tactics
30 Nov, 2024

Tired tactics

Matiullah's arrest appears to be a case of the state’s overzealous and misplaced application of the law.
Smog struggle
30 Nov, 2024

Smog struggle

AS smog continues to shroud parts of Pakistan, an Ipsos survey highlights the scope of this environmental hazard....
Solidarity with Palestine
Updated 29 Nov, 2024

Solidarity with Palestine

The wretched of the earth see in the Palestinian struggle against Israel a mirror of themselves.
Little relief for public
29 Nov, 2024

Little relief for public

INFLATION, the rate of increase in the prices of goods and services over a given period of time, has receded...
Right to education
29 Nov, 2024

Right to education

IT is troubling to learn that over 16,500 students of the University of Karachi (KU) have defaulted on fee payments...