Four Pakistani security personnel killed by gunmen

Karachi: At least four Pakistani security personnel were killed today when gunmen opened fire on their official vehicle in restive Baluchistan province's capital city Quetta.

Three paramilitary soldiers and one policeman were killed when the gunmen opened fire on a Frontier Corps vehicle on the Fatima Jinnah road of Quetta.

Two civilians also sustained gunshot wounds and were admitted to a hospital.

"It appears to be a case of target killing and according to eye witnesses armed men on a motorcycle opened fire on the FC vehicle and the police constable who was on duty," he said.

Police said the attackers escaped unhurt from the spot.

The restive Baluchistan province has seen an increase in separatist and sectarian violence this year with banned terrorist outfits also carrying out suicide bombings.

In three major suicide bomb attacks since August, over 150 persons have been killed and scores injured.

A suicide bomb attack was carried out at the entrance of the Civil hospital in Quetta in August in which around 70 persons were killed followed by a terrorist attack on the police training centre in the city in which two suicide bomber blew themselves up killing 64 police cadets and two army soldiers last month.

Last week, a suicide bomber blew himself up in the compound of the Shah Noorani shrine in the Khuzdar district, killing 54 devotees and security personnel.