QUETTA: A police official belonging to Eagle Squad was martyred and 12 others suffered injuries in a blast in a portion of a mosque on the outskirts of Quetta, on Monday evening.

Officials said people, including some Eagle Squad personnel, were waiting to break their fast in a room of the mosque, situated in the Killi Kateer area of Kuchlak, some 25km from the Balochistan capital, when the blast took place.

“A powerful explosion took place inside the room, damaging the roof of the side room of the mosque,” police said.

Soon after the blast, personnel of law enforcement agencies rushed to Killi Kateer and shifted the injured and the body to Civil Hospital.

Among the dozen injured are at least six Eagle Squad personnel.

While quoting the bomb disposal squad officials, SSP (Operations) Jawad Tariq said it was a “gas explosion” inside the mosque room. “The bomb disposal squad did not find evidence of an explosive device after examining the blast,” he said while speaking to Dawn.

Hospital sources said they received one body and 12 injured, some of whom sustained serious injuries.

The Eagle Squad soldier who lost his life was identified as Mohammad Anwar Khan Kakar, a resident of Quetta.

Published in Dawn, April 9th, 2024