QUETTA, Nov 13: Two passers-by were killed and 12 people injured on Tuesday in a remote-controlled bomb blast aimed at a vehicle of paramilitary Frontier Corps, officials said. Three FC personnel were among the wounded.

According to police sources, the bomb was planted in a bicycle which was parked in the Almo Chowk area on Airport Road. The bomb was detonated when the FC vehicle passed through the area, killing two passers-by and injuring 12 others.

The FC patrol and six other vehicles were damaged by the blast that rocked the entire area. The FC men shot fires in the air after the blast.

The injured were taken to the civil hospital and CMH.

“The target of the attack was the FC vehicle,” a senior police officer said.

Bomb disposal squad personnel said about 10-15kg of explosives had been used in the blast.

The deceased were identified as Sanaullah and Mohammad Rafiq. The injured included Mohammad Ishaq, Nisar Ahmed, Mohammad Naeem, Sikandar, Haji Abdul Manan, Mohammad and Ghulam Sarwar.

Sarbaz Baloch, a spokesman for the proscribed Baloch Republican Army, claimed responsibility for the attack. —Staff Correspondent