QUETTA, Sept 2: At least 13 people were killed and 16 others injured in a suicide attack here on Wednesday --- the first day of Eid holidays. Two women and two children were among the dead.

Banned outfit Lashkar-i-Jhangvi claimed responsibility for the attack.

DIG (operations) Hamid Shakeel told Dawn that the bomber wanted to detonate his explosives-laden car in the Eid Gah of Hazara community on Alamdar road, but could not reach there because all roads leading to it had been blocked by police.

Sources said that despite strict security arrangements and deployment of police, Balochistan Constabulary and other security personnel, the bomber succeeded in reaching Gulistan town area, but his car was stuck up on Major Mohammad Ali road because of the blockade. When he tried to take a turn, another car came from behind and blocked his way. Finding no way the desperate attacker blew up his explosives-laden car there, killing five people on the spot and injuring many others.

Over two dozen cars and motorcycles parked on the road and a nearby parking area were destroyed in the blast which rocked the provincial capital. A number of houses were damaged.

Limbs and other body parts of a number of victims were found 500 meters away from the explosion side. “Many body parts were found in General Musa Girls College premises,” Khalil Ahmed, an eyewitness, told Dawn. Soon after the blast security personnel cordoned off the entire area and shifted the bodies and the injured to the Civil Hospital and Combined Military Hospital (CMH). Eight of the injured died in CMH. The condition of six injured is stated to be critical.

“A woman and her child were killed on the spot because their car was behind the suicide attacker’s car,” said Naseer Ahmed, another eyewitness.

City police chief Ahsan Mehboob confirmed that the bomber wanted to blow up his car in the Eid Gah where thousands of people belonging to the Hazara community were offering Eid prayers. “Strict security arrangements foiled the attacker’s attempt to detonate the car in Eid Gah.” He claimed that security measures had saved hundreds of lives.

Bomb disposal officials said that about 45kg of explosives with ball-baring and rockets was used in the blast. A live hand-grenade was recovered from the wreckage of the bomber’s car.

A police officer said the attacker wanted to hurl the grenade in the Eid Gah before blowing up the car. The bomber’s head was found in the blast site.

According to the sources, a camel man was among dead.

Those killed in the blast were identified as Saeed Yousuf, Haji Saddiq, Fatima Bibi, Shahnaz Bibi, Shah Mohammad, Rahim, Haji Abdul Qayyum, Ali Baba, Jan Ali, Sher Ali, Nargis Bibi, Sania Dawood and Zia.

Ali Sher Haidari, a spokesman for Lashkar-i-Jhangvi, told reporters from an unspecified place said his organisation was behind the suicide attack.