QUETTA, Jan 29: At least eight people, three policemen among them, were injured in a van bomb blast near the residence of a senior police officer on Saturday.

According to police, an explosives-laden van parked near the house of SP Shaban Ali on Alamdar Road was detonated by remote control.

The injured included two girls and SP Ali's three police guards.

Deputy Inspector General (Operation) Hamid Shakeel said the SP was the target of the attack and he remained safe because he was in his house when the explosion occurred. “Six to 10kgs of explosives were used in the blast,” the DIG said.

Witnesses said the van, parked at the place about half an hour before the blast, was destroyed.