2 killed, over 27 injured in southwest Pakistan 'suicide' attack

KARACHI, Pakistan

At least two people were killed and over 27 others, including 24 policemen, were injured when a suspected suicide bomber blew himself up near a police vehicle in southwest Pakistan on Wednesday morning, police and local media reported.

The suspected bomber, who acted alone, targeted a truck carrying police personnel for the security of anti-polio vaccinators in a suburban locality of Quetta, the capital of southwestern Balochistan province, which borders neighboring Afghanistan and Iran, Abdul Haq Umrani, the city police chief told reporters.

The dead included a policeman, a passer-by boy, and the suspected bomber. Some of the injured are in critical condition.

Images aired on local broadcaster Geo News showed rescue and security personnel shifting the bodies and injured into the honking ambulances, which transported them to a local hospital.

At least three damaged vehicles were also seen on the spot with blood-soaked shoes, helmets, pieces of clothes and glasses strewn around.

No group has claimed responsibility for the attack so far, nevertheless, the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), a conglomerate of several militant groups operating in Pakistan, has long been involved in attacks on security forces and the anti-polio vaccinators across the country.

The latest bombing took place just two days after the TTP announced the ending of a so-called cease-fire with the security forces and threatened to carry out fresh attacks.