Explosion kills 75 mourners in Pakistani Civil Hospital

An explosion at the accident and emergency department of the Civil hospital in Pakistan’s Quetta has left not less than 75 people dead.


According to Al Jazeera, the blast occurred where a group of mourning lawyers were gathered to accompany the body of a murdered colleague who is a prominent lawyer.

Mohammed Omar Baloch, health secretary of Balochistan, said at least 75 people were killed in the suicide blast on Monday morning.

He added that there were fears that the death toll could rise further, as more than 50 others were wounded in the attack.

BBC reports that the casualties included lawyers and journalists accompanying the body of Bilal Anwar Kasi. Many of the dead appeared to be wearing black suits and ties.

Gunfire followed the explosion.

It was not clear who the attackers were.

Pakistani police have said they suspect the bomb was detonated by a suicide attacker.

Imran Khan, a Pakistani politician, described the act as cowardly, saying hospitals are spared in war.