28 killed, over 60 injured in suicide attack in SW Pakistan

ISLAMABAD, June 30 (Xinhua) -- At least 28 people were killed and over 60 others were injured in a suicide attack that targeted a religious seminary in Pakistan's southwestern provincial capital of Quetta on Sunday night, said police official.

Capital City Police Officer (CCPO) Mir Zubair Mehmood told to the media that a total of 28 people including 10 women and three children were killed in the attack so far.

Hospital official feared a rise in the number of casualties as at least 20 of the injured were reportedly in critical condition and were being treated in the intensive care units.

According to the reports, the incident took place at the main gate of the religious seminary of Shia Muslim community in Ali Abad area of Hazara Town in Quetta.

Eyewitness said that the suicide bomber who was wearing woman dress and veil exploded his explosive laden jacket when a big number of people including women and children came out after offering prayers in a mosque located in the seminary.

CCPO Mehmood said that the bomber was a young male and his head was found some 50 meters away from the site.

Earlier local media reports said that it was twin blasts but the police official did not confirm the information.

Police, security forces and rescue teams rushed to the site and shifted the bodies and injured to the Civil Hospital and Bolan Medical Complex of Quetta.

The impact of the blast was so high that it suspended the electricity supply to the area that delayed and created difficulties to the rescue work.

A number of vehicles, shops and houses located nearby the incident site were also damaged.

Security forces condoned off the area and launched a search operation to arrest aids of the attacker. Police also found two hand grenades which were diffused later by the Bomb Disposal Squad near the site.

Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif condemned the suicide attack and offered sympathy to the grieved families.

Shia community of the country announced three-day mourning over the incident and asked the government to take solid steps to arrest the culprits and provide them foolproof security.

No group or militant organization claimed responsibility for the attack yet.

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