Islamic State claimed responsibility for Pak hospital attack

Quetta, Aug 9: The Islamic State (IS) terror outfit claimed responsibility for the suicide bombing in a hospital here in Pakistan on Monday (Aug 8), killing at least 70 and leaving over 100 injured. The outfit's Amaq news agency reported this, according to Reuters. [Pak attack "particularly appalling", said UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon]

"A martyr from the Islamic State detonated his explosive belt at a gathering of justice ministry employees and Pakistani policemen in the city of Quetta," Reuters quoted Amaq as saying.

Pakistani Taliban faction Jamaat-ur-Ahrar also claimed responsibility for the attack, Reuters added.

The tragedy struck when a crowd comprising mainly lawyers and journalists gathered at the emergency department to accompany the body of a prominent lawyer who had been gunned down in the city earlier in the day.

Sources at the state-run Civil Hospital where the explosion took place said at least 70 people were killed and over 112 injured, the Reuters report added.

Oneindia News