Suicide bombing in embattled Pakistan province kills 24, injures dozens more

An apparent car bombing rocked Pakistan’s southwestern city of Quetta on Sunday morning, killing at least 24 people and injuring around 70 more, according to officials.

A high-ranking Balochistan provincial officer told CBS News that the blast was severe and that the number of people killed and injured may rise.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif called the attack a “cowardly act of terrorism” on social media. Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti said on social media that “innocent civilians, including women and children” were killed.

The massive blast occurred near a railway track in the Faquir Abad area at around 8:00 a.m. local time and caused panic across nearby neighborhoods. Witnesses said the powerful explosion shook buildings, shattered windows and sparked a fire that engulfed parts of a passenger shuttle train. The Associated Press said the explosion occurred in an area where security forces are usually stationed.

Read more: CBS News