At least 25 people were killed and dozens injured on Saturday morning as a blast rocked Quetta railway station in Pakistan. The attack — claimed by the Baloch Liberation Army — also left 14 army personnel dead.
An AFP journalist saw pools of blood and ripped backpacks at the scene, where a large metal sheet protecting passengers from the elements had been blown off. Meanwhile footage aired by local news channels showed the steel structure of the platform roof blown apart and a tea stall destroyed as luggage littered the place. The blast was heard far and wide in various areas of the city.
According to Mohammad Baloch — the Senior Superintendent of Police Operations in Quetta — there had been “around 100 people” present at the site. Footage viewed by the official indicated that people had been preparing for the departure of a train from the platform when the blast took place.
Reports indicate that the attack took place at Platform No. 1 of the railway station around 8:45 am local time. The Peshawar-bound Jaffar Express train docked at the station earlier on Saturday and was ready to depart at the time.