A powerful bomb exploded on Wednesday, killing at least four people and injuring at least nine others in the park in a luxurious hotel in the southwest Pakistani city of Quetta, Baluchistan.
Four people died on the spot in the incident. Thirteen people were seriously injured. Over dozens of injured people were rushed to a local hospital. The bomber struck shortly afternoon in front of a hotel car park.
Azhar Akram, a senior police official, informed that officers are trying to determine whether the bomb had been planted in a car parked in a parking lot in a hotel park. He did not give any further information saying that the police are still investigating.
The bomb exploded some minutes after a car reached the parking lot and the authorities investigated whether it was a suicide attack. Other security officials told the bomb.
Responding to the incident, Pakistani Home Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed said four people had been killed. He said the hotel hosted Chinese ambassadors.
Ahmed also added the bombing was considered a terrorist act. However, A Pakistani Taliban took responsibility hours after the attack, claiming it was a suicide attack in a statement. Pakistani Taliban is a different terrorist group from Afghanistan’s Taliban or Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan.
Speaking to the Pakistan geo news channel Sheik Rashid Ahmed, Pakistan’s Home Minister, immediately blamed the Indian for the hotel explosion, although he did not provide evidence to support the claim.
Ahmed said they were aware of possible future attacks in the capital, Islamabad, and elsewhere and the information has already been shared with the concerned authorities concerned to tighten the security around the country.
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This is the only luxury hotel in the city that is considered safe and is frequently used by foreigners.
The bombing at the hotel came after hours Pakistan and Iran announced a new border crossing in Baluchistan to boost trade and economic ties. So, Baluchistan shares the Iranian-Afghan frontier.
Pakistan has almost completed a fence along the Afghanistan border that Islamabad says is required to avoid militant attacks on both sides.
Pakistan and neighboring country Afghanistan frequently blame each other for leaving the Islamic militants on loose by the porous borders.
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