A suicide bombing near a railway station in Quetta, Pakistan, has claimed the lives of at least 25 people and injured another 53. The Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) has taken responsibility for the attack, which targeted the crowded platform of passengers.
Quetta Division Commissioner Hamza Shafqat confirmed the current death toll and that the attack was a suicide attack, according to CNN. The blast, which occurred around 9 am, caused widespread chaos as people ran for safety amidst the carnage. Senior Police Superintendent Muhammad Baloch confirmed that the platform was full of passengers at the time.
“There was a lot of chaos. People were running back and forth, people were lying martyred, some without legs and arms and hands,” an eyewitness told CNN. Among the killed are passengers as well as railway employees and security personnel.
The province’s chief minister has ordered an inquiry into the attack. Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif issued a statement heavily condemning the attack and vowing that those responsible “will pay a very heavy price for it.” The prime minister added that security forces are determined to eliminate “the mance of terrorism,” according to NBC News.
The BLA has intensified its insurgency in recent months, seeking independence from Pakistan. The separatist militant group has often sought to attack soft targets. In August, coordinated attacks on passenger buses and security forces throughout Balochistan resulted in over 50 fatalities, mostly civilians.
The separatists have also intentionally targeted foreigners. In October, it also targeted a convoy of Chinese engineers and investors, killing two Chinese citizens. This prompted the Chinese government to request that Pakistan ensure the safety of its citizens working in the country.
