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Pakistani security forces kill suicide bomber in SW Quetta

26 April 2012 20:22 (UTC +04:00)

Baku-APA. Pakistani security forces killed a suicide bomber and injured two others on Thursday evening minutes before they could attack a pilgrims’ bus in southwestern provincial capital of Quetta, APA reports quoting Xinhua.

According to reports, police personnel stopped three suspected persons for checking at a check post but they ran away from the site.

Police personnel followed and opened aerial firing to stop them but they threw a hand grenade at policemen besides spraying bullets with pistols.

But in retaliation from the policemen one of them was shot dead on spot while his two companions were injured.

On checking, police also found an explosive jacket tied to the body of the killed person, which was later diffused by the bomb disposal squad.

Police shifted both injured terrorists to the unknown place for the treatment and investigation.

A security official told media that the terrorists were trying to enter the Hazara town, a sensitive area of the Quetta city where most sectarian killings had been reported in recent months.

"They were on the way to attack a bus of pilgrims of Shiite Muslims planning to go to Iran for a holy visit," said the official.

The police in Quetta have adopted the strict security measures after an increase in the sectarian killings during last month.

At least 26 people of Shiite Muslim community were shot dead in Quetta since the start of this month in different firing incidents.

Hundreds of people have been killed in violence between Sunni and Shiite Muslims in Pakistan, especially, during last three decades.