QUETTA: A bomb attack killed at least eight people and wounded more than 20 others outside a Pakistani madrasa in the troubled southwestern city of Quetta yesterday, police said.
The bomb was detonated outside the gates of the Sunni seminary as a degree ceremony for students was being held inside, police told reporters. It was the deadliest attack in the city since a car bomb killed 15 people last December.
There was no immediate claim of responsibility, but the city suffers from attacks, sectarian violence and a separatist insurgency.
Dr. Mohammad Haider at the state-run Civil Hospital said three boys and five men were killed. He said the children were aged seven, nine and 14.
Police official Hamid Shakeel confirmed the death toll and said that more than 20 people were wounded. “It was a remote-controlled bomb,” he said. Haji Khudai Nazar, 40, who was wounded in the abdomen, said that he had come to attend the function as a guest.
“I came with two friends to attend the event. As soon as we got out of the car, there was a huge blast. Dust covered the whole area. People were crying. I don’t know what happened afterwards — I fell unconscious,” he said.
