Terrorist attack at the Quetta railway station.Photo: suspilne.
At least 27 people were killed and more than 40 injured in an explosion at the Quetta railway station in Balochistan province. The explosion occurred in the morning when a large number of people were at the station preparing to travel. All the injured were immediately hospitalised, including many in critical condition. Police, rescuers and medics are working at the scene. An emergency has been declared in Quetta hospitals, where blood donations are being actively collected due to a shortage of fluids. The incident has already been classified as a suicide attack, and a banned organisation has claimed responsibility for it. This was reported by TimeUkraineIsrael with reference to Geo.tv.
Terrorist attack at Quetta railway station: terrible consequences for local residents
The explosion took place at the railway station, where the Jaffer Express train, which was heading to Peshawar, was boarding. According to preliminary reports, a suicide bomber blew himself up among passengers when a large number of people were on the platform. The explosion damaged not only people, but also part of the infrastructure, including the roof of the platform, which caused even more panic among local residents.
During an interview with journalists, Quetta Commissioner Hamza Shafqat confirmed that the attack was suicidal, noting that the terrorist entered the station with luggage and was difficult to stop before the explosion. He also appealed to citizens to donate blood due to the acute shortage of fluids for the victims. In addition, Shafqat confirmed that among the dead were law enforcement officers who were on duty at the time of the attack.
Death toll projections and international reactions
With several victims in serious condition, authorities do not rule out that the death toll could rise. Police say the explosion was so powerful that it could be heard at a great distance from the scene.
The Minister of Interior of Balochistan, Sarfaraz Bugti, convened an emergency meeting on the security situation in the province. All measures to deal with the aftermath of the attack are under the control of local authorities, and a special commission has launched an investigation.
International leaders expressed their deepest condolences over the tragedy. Pakistani President Syed Yousaf Raza Gillani condemned the terrorist attack, noting that the enemies of humanity had attacked civilians. Defence Minister Ahsan Iqbal said that the attacks would not break the government’s resolve to fight terrorism. “We will bring the terrorists to justice,” he stressed.
Increased violence in the region
This incident is part of a general upsurge in violence in Pakistan, where the number of terrorist attacks has increased significantly in recent months. According to the Centre for Security Studies, the level of violence in the provinces of Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa increased by 90% in the third quarter of this year alone. Terrorist attacks in these areas have become almost regular, and many local officials are concerned about the possibility of more attacks.
The incident in Quetta once again underscores the urgency of taking measures to ensure the safety of citizens and fight terrorism. The authorities promise to make every effort to stop the wave of violence and restore peace in the region.
