At least 22 people were killed and over 45 injured in a powerful explosion at the Quetta Railway Station on Saturday morning, local officials said.
The Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) claimed responsibility for the attack, stating it targeted military personnel.
Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Mohammad Baloch said that the blast occurred on a platform within the station.
“The incident appears to be a suicide blast,” he said, adding that investigations are ongoing to determine the exact circumstances.
SSP Baloch told reporters that around 100 people were present, according to footage reviewed by police. He said both civilians and military personnel use the station for transport.
He added that military personnel from the Infantry School were the primary target.
The Reuters news agency cited the inspector general of police for Balochistan, Mouzzam Jah Ansari, as saying that the explosion took place at a railway station in Quetta in Balochistan.
“The target was army personnel from the Infantry School,” Ansari said.
Railway officials said the explosion took place near the ticket booth as two trains were preparing to depart.Following the blast, hospitals in the area were placed on high alert, with officials warning that the death toll could rise due to the severity of injuries.
Balochistan government spokesperson Shahid Rind said police and security forces reached the site soon after the blast.
Rind added that the nature of the blast remains under investigation. The Bomb Disposal Squad is collecting evidence from the scene.
The BLA, in a statement, said the attack targeted army personnel returning via the Jaffer Express after completing a course at the Infantry School.
“This morning, a Fidayee attack was carried out on a Pakistani army unit at Quetta Railway Station as they were returning via Jaffer Express after completing a course at the Infantry School,” the BLA spokesperson said.
The BLA spokesperson added that further details would be shared soon.