An explosion at a mosque in Quetta, in southwestern Pakistan, killed at least 13 people, including a senior police officer, and wounded 20 others. Police said an improvised explosive device had been planted at the mosque inside a seminary in the city.
The bomb went off during evening prayers on Friday. This was the second bombing in Quetta this week. Dr Wasim Baig, a spokesman for the main hospital, told Reuters that 13 dead and 20 injured had been brought in, adding that many of the wounded were in serious condition.
A senior police officer, Haji Amanullah was among the dead. His son was killed by unknown assailants last month. A spokesman for the Pakistan military said paramilitary troops were conducting a search of the vicinity. The mineral and gas rich region of Balochistan is at the centre of the $60 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, which is part of China’s Belt and Road infrastructure project. Violence in Balochistan has fuelled concerns about the security of projects such as a planned energy link from western China to Pakistan’s southern port of Grader.