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QUETTA: At least four people died and 12 were injured on Wednesday in a blast that took place at the parking lot of the Serena Hotel located on Zargun Road.
It is reported that the blast took place near Jinnah Road, Serena Chowk in the parking lot of a private hotel. Multiple cars in the parking lot caught on fire as a result of the blast. Four people died and 12 other people sustained injuries who have been shifted to Civil Hospital for medical treatment.
Quetta Police say the nature of the blast is being investigated. It is reported that security forces have cordoned off the area surrounding the site of the blast.
DIG Azhar Ikram said that the explosive device was apparently fitted in a vehicle, according to initial investigations. He added that a police official was among the deceased.
Addressing a press conference after the incident, Balochistan Home Minister Mir Ziaullah Langove said that there was a wave of terrorism in the region. He said there were no threat alerts before the attack.
Regarding media reports about the Chinese ambassador being the apparent target of the attack, the minister said that the ambassador was not present at the hotel when the explosion occurred.
Balochistan government spokesperson Liaquat Shahwani said the incident was being investigated from all angles and thos involved will not be able to escape the law.
Quetta Deputy Commissioner Aurangzeb Badini confirmed on Twitter that four people had died and a dozen injured in the explosion while two people were in critical condition.
Footage shared from the scene showed burning cars, with huge flames and plumes of smoke rising into the sky. In a tweet, Balochistan Chief Minister Jam Kamal Khan said he strongly condemned the explosion.
Federal Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry said the interior ministry was in close contact with the Balochistan government and that initial investigations were underway. He said the government will issue a statement as soon as the nature of the blast and losses are determined.
Balochistan Inspector General of Police Tahir Rai said that the explosion occurred in the parking lot of Serena Hotel. He added that the hotel premises have been cordoned off and the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) has been deployed to investigate the incident.
https://twitter.com/DcQuetta/status/1384936867070681092
