Six killed, dozens injured in Balochistan blast

, Jun 11: Six persons were killed while dozens were injured on Monday after a bomb went off near a bus in Mastung district of

province, about 50 south of the provincial capital of Quetta, officials said. The bomb, hidden in a motorcycle, was detonated by a remote control as the bus approached it. Nearly 50 people, including women and children, were travelling in the bus. The condition of three of the wounded was critical, officials said.

The injured were taken to a nearby hospital, from where those in critical condition were shifted to Quetta. The bus was extensively damaged in the blast. Police officials said the intended target of the bombing might have been a bus with Shia pilgrims that passed the area minutes before the explosion. No group claimed responsibility for the attack. Balochistan has witnessed a string of sectarian attacks targeting the minority Shia community. Scores have died in these attacks.

PTI