BOLAN: A blast ripped through an Imambargah in Bhag Tehseel on Thursday, killing at least 12 people and injuring several others including children, Balochistan Home Minister Sarfaraz Bugti said.
Police said a suicide attacker blew himself up when worshipers were offering Maghribain prayers. The police also claimed to have recovered head of the suicide bomber who they say was aged between 18 to 19 years.
Local administration official Mohammad Waseem confirmed the attack and death toll. Bugti said there were six children between 10 and 12 years old among the dead and that some women had also died.
He added that the death toll may rise. Waseem said the suspected suicide bomber appeared to be about 18 years old and was wearing a woman’s burqa, an all enveloping head-to-toe garment.
Our correspondent said the explosion occurred in Imambargah Kazmia in Chalgiri area moments before a gathering was about to begin. Due to lack of ambulances in the area, the victims were being shifted through vehicles of paramilitary force to hospital. He said the hospital is located an hour drive from the blast scene.
The blast is the second attack in Balochistan after beginning of Muharram. Last week, at least 11 people were killed in a blast that hit a passenger bus on Quetta’s Sariab road
