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Pakistan Train Station Bombing
A suicide bomber killed at least 26 people at a Pakistan train station; the Balochistan Liberation Army claimed responsibility.
English
United States
PoliticsMiddle EastTerrorismViolencePakistanAttack
Balochistan Liberation ArmyPakistan ArmyPakistan Railways
Shehbaz SharifHamza ShafqaatShahid NawazWasim BaigMuhammad Baloch
- Where and when did the bombing take place?
- The bombing occurred in Quetta, the capital of Balochistan province, while nearly 100 passengers waited for a train to Rawalpindi. The victims included soldiers, railway staff, and civilians.
- Which group claimed responsibility for the attack?
- The Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), a separatist group, claimed responsibility for the attack, stating that their target was troops at the station. The BLA has a history of insurgency seeking independence from Islamabad.
- Were there any security breaches that allowed the attack?
- While a walk-through gate was installed at the station to detect explosives, multiple other entrances lacked such security measures. Shahid Nawaz, the security chief, maintains there was no security breach, attributing the attack to the bomber's disguise.
- What were the immediate casualties from the suicide bombing?
- At least 26 people were killed and 62 others wounded in a suicide bombing at a Quetta train station. The bomber, disguised as a passenger, detonated explosives among waiting passengers.
- What were the reactions to the bombing from Pakistani and international leaders?
- Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the attack, vowing that those responsible would face consequences. International condemnation came from Afghanistan and Russia as well.