ISLAMABAD, April 21 (APP): Four persons were killed and 12 injured in a blast in a vehicle in the parking of Quetta’s Serena hotel Wednesday night.
According to initial investigations, the blast seemed to be a Vehicle Based Improvised Explosive Device (VBIED), DIG Quetta Azhar Akram told reporters at the site.
Deputy Commissioner Quetta Aurangzeb Badini confirmed the number of dead and injured and said the injured were shifted to the hospitals and were getting medical care. He said that it was a combination of a VBIED and a Suicide Blast which also injured two assistant commissioners.
A police spokesman said around 40 to 50 kg of explosives were used in the car that blew up soon after entering the outer parking of the hotel.
Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed told a news channel that there were reports that the anti-Pakistan elements were active and more terrorist activities could take place in some large cities – Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Peshawar and Karachi. he said an alert has already been issued in this regard.
He however said that the nation with the support of the armed forces would defeat these terrorists, as the people of Pakistan were united. He termed the incident part of “an international conspiracy against Pakistan.”
*Serena Blast Update*
It is reportedly a VBIED+SB blast in which 12 people got injured and 04 have succumbed to their wounds.
02 Assistant Commissioners are also among the injured.
The wounded are being given the best treatment by health department. #QuettaBlast— Deputy Commissioner Quetta (@DcQuetta) April 21, 2021
Police, fire and rescue services rushed to the crime scene . The dead and injured were shifted to the hospital and the area secured.
DIG Quetta denied the presence of some high profile guests at the Serena hotel at the time of the blast.
Witnesses reported hearing a huge explosion followed by fire which shattered the window panes of the nearby buildings. The blast damaged a number of vehicles parked inside the hotel compound. Images shared by people on social media showed several damaged vehicles.
The spokesperson of the Balochistan Government strongly condemned the incident and said the perpetrators would face the law of the land.
کوئٹہ سرینا ہوٹل کے پارکنگ میں دھماکے کی شدید الفاظ میں مذمت کرٹ ہوں۔
دھماکے میں4 افراد شہید اور12زخمی ہوئے ہیں
ہر پہلو سے انویسٹی گیشن جاری ہے۔ مرتکب افراد قانون کی گرفت سے نہیں بچ سکینگے۔
ہسپتالوں میں ایمرجنسی نافذ۔
اللہ تعالی شہدا کی مغفرت فرمائے اور زخمیوں کو صحت عطا فرمائے۔— Liaquat Shahwani (@LiaquatShahwani) April 21, 2021
There was an immediate widespread condemnation for the perpetrators of the blast and prayers for the injured.
Strongly condemn the bomb attack in #Serena hotel #QuettaBlast. My deep condolences to the families who lost their beloved ones and pray for the safe recovery of the injured. pic.twitter.com/c4GAiAoCl9
— Gu Wenliang 顾文亮 (@GuWenliang) April 21, 2021
