QUETTA: Security forces claimed to have arrested the mastermind of Saturday’s bomb blast at Quetta’s Kirani Road in a targeted operation conducted early on Tuesday in Killi Qambrani area in outskirts of Quetta, DawnNews reported.

According to media reports, six other suspects were also arrested alongside the alleged mastermind, all of whom belonged to a banned organisation.

The arrested suspects were shifted to an undisclosed location for further investigations.

TV channels reported sources as claiming that a large number of arms, explosive materials, detonators and ammunition were also recovered from the suspects.

Moreover, four suspected terrorists were killed in an encounter with the security forces. The bodies were shifted to the Civil Hospital.

“Those who were killed were high-profile target killers,” said the home secretary of Baluchistan province, Akbar Hussain Durrani, adding that one of the masterminds of Saturday's attack was among those in custody.

He added that the FC has launched search operation to trace and arrest the suspects involved in bomb blast and target killing. He further said that two personnel of FC also received injuries in the gun battle with the armed men.

Meanwhile, Col. Maqbool, the Commandant of FC told media persons that the armed men who were killed and arrested in the exchange of fire during the search operation belonged to Karachi, Rahim Yar Khan, Quetta and Kohlu areas. “We also recovered suicide jacket, arms and ammunition from the possession of the accused,” he said.