At least four dead after explosion at hotel in Pakistan where Chinese ambassador was staying

At least four people were killed and a dozen others injured in a bomb explosion in the parking lot of a luxury hotel where the Chinese ambassador was staying. in southwest Pakistan, local authorities said on Wednesday.

The explosion occurred in the parking lot of Serena, in the city of Quetta, the capital of the province of Balochistan, where the army has been fighting insurgents for a decade, less than 100 km from the Afghan border..

“At least four people died and 12 others were injured”, declared to the AFP Pakistani Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed denounces an “act of terrorism”.

“A Chinese delegation of about four people, led by the ambassador, was staying in this hotel,” added.

“The Ambassador was abroad for a meeting when the explosion occurred”, He said.

Azhar Ikram, senior police officer in Quetta, said the explosives were found in “one of the vehicles” in the parking lot, according to the first elements of the investigation.

The deputy inspector general of police of Balochistan province added that a policeman was among the dead.

For the moment, the explosion has not been claimed.

Balochistan is a poor province despite the significant natural resources at its disposal. In recent years, the insurgency has been particularly fierce.

After the incident, the provincial Minister of the Interior, Mir Ziaullah Langove, said at a press conference that the region is experiencing a growing wave of terrorism, according to local media “Dawn”.

“Our own people are implicated in these acts of terrorism”He added, to point out that before the explosion there had been bomb threats.

Early speculation from local media was that the attack took place at the Serena Hotel because the Chinese ambassador would be staying nearby, although the minister denied this information and clarified that the ambassador was fine.

Although they described the attack as terrorism, authorities did not provide further details as the police investigation continues.

(With information from AFP)

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