Suicide bomber kills at least 24 at Pakistani railway station

A suicide bomber detonated an explosives-laden vehicle beside a railway track in southwest Pakistan as a passenger train passed through Quetta. The blast overturned two carriages and caused a fire, producing thick black smoke. Nearby buildings were badly damaged and more than a dozen parked vehicles were destroyed. Some victims were residents of a nearby apartment building. Hospitals reported 20 wounded in critical condition and declared a medical emergency. The Baloch Liberation Army claimed responsibility, saying it targeted a train carrying security personnel. Quetta is in Balochistan, where insurgent violence has frequently targeted security forces, government sites, and civilians. An investigation was launched by provincial authorities.

"A suicide bomber detonated an explosives-laden vehicle beside a railway track in southwest Pakistan on Sunday, killing at least 24 people and wounding more than 70 as a passenger train passed through the city of Quetta, officials said. The force of the blast caused two carriages to overturn and catch fire, sending thick black smoke into the air. Several nearby buildings were badly damaged, and more than a dozen parked vehicles were destroyed, according to witnesses and images circulating on social media."

"A security official said some of those killed were residents of a nearby apartment building. Doctors at local hospitals said 20 of the wounded were in critical condition. A medical emergency was declared at hospitals in Quetta and an investigation launched, said Shahid Rind, spokesman for the Balochistan provincial government. "We strongly condemn the targeting of innocent civilians and are deeply saddened by the loss of precious human lives," Mr Rind said."

"The Baloch Liberation Army, an outlawed separatist group that demands independence from Pakistan's central government, claimed responsibility for the attack, saying it had targeted a train carrying security personnel. Quetta is the capital of Balochistan, an oil- and mineral-rich province that has long been the scene of a low-level insurgency. Militants have frequently targeted security forces, government installations and civilians there and elsewhere in the country."

"Sunday's attack happened in an area where security forces are usually stationed. Three security officials told the Associated Press that bodies had been transported to hospitals following the blast, speaking on condition of anonymity. At least 26 people, including soldiers, were killed in 2024 when a suicide bomber attacked a train station in the province. Earlier this year, Pakistani forces killed 145 militants in a 40-hour operation after co-ordinated attacks across Balochistan left nearly 50 people dead, provincial officials said."

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