Quetta, Pakistan
cnn
—
At least 30 people were killed and dozens more injured after an explosion ripped through a religious procession in Pakistan’s restive Balochistan province on Friday in what authorities have described as a suicide attack.
The explosion occurred in the Mastung district of the southwestern province, as people gathered to celebrate the birthday of the Prophet Muhammad, the province’s Information Minister Jan Achakzai told CNN.
Mastung Deputy Commissioner Atta Ul Munim confirmed to CNN that the explosion was a suicide attack and that 40 people were injured. No one has claimed responsibility for the explosion.
The critically injured have been taken to hospitals in Quetta, the provincial capital, while others are being treated at a local hospital in Mastung, he said.
Achakzai said the bodies of the victims were also taken to a hospital, but he expected the number of victims to rise.
Balochistan, Pakistan’s largest province in terms of area, has suffered a series of attacks in recent months.
Last month, the Pakistani military foiled an attack on Chinese engineers in Balochistan, leaving two militants dead and Chinese workers unharmed, according to police.
In March this year, at least nine police officers were killed and 11 others injured in a suspected suicide blast.
This is a developing story. More to come.