PAKISTAN: At least 52 people were killed, and more than 50 were injured in a suicide attack on a religious gathering in Pakistan’s Balochistan province on Friday.
The heavy explosion took place near a mosque in Balochistan’s Mastung district, where people were gathering to mark the birth anniversary of Prophet Muhammed.
Mastung Assistant Commissioner Atta Ul Munim termed the explosion as “massive”. A Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) is also among those killed in the blast.
According to the district administration, Mastung’s DSP Nawaz Gashkori is among the victims. He was on duty for a religious rally to be held in the area.
“The bomber detonated himself near the vehicle of the Deputy Superintendent of Police,” Reuters quoted a senior police officer. No one has claimed responsibility for the blast. The Pakistani Taliban (TTP) denied their involvement in a statement. This was the second major blast in the Mastung district in September. Earlier this month, a blast injured several people, including Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Fazl (JUI-F) leader Hafiz Hamdullah.