27 injured in blast in market in Baluchistan

At least 27 people were injured tonight when a bomb exploded in a busy market in the capital city of Pakistan's troubled Baluchistan province.

Karachi: At least 27 people were injured on Wednesday when a bomb exploded in a busy market in the capital city of Pakistan's troubled Baluchistan province.

The explosion took place outside a shop on Prince Road near Liaquat Market, one of the busiest commercial areas in?the capital city Quetta.

The bomb was planted on a motorbike parked outside the shop, said Razzaq Cheema, the Capital City Police Officer (CCPO) Quetta.

"Common citizens were targeted in the blast as the market was at its busiest when the bomb went off," he said.

The injured have been taken to Civil Hospital Quetta and five are stated to be in critical condition, police said.

According to some local TV channel reports, two people were killed in the blast, but there was no official word on it.

"About five kilograms of explosives were used in the explosion, an official of Bomb Disposal Squad (BDS) was quoted as saying by The Express Tribune.

"Nut, bolts and steel nails were used to cause maximum damage, he said.

After the blast, fire broke out in six shops and fire tenders had to be called in to extinguish the blaze.

No group has so far claimed responsibility of the explosion.

The blast took place a little more than a week after the Peshawar school massacre in which 150 people, mostly children, were killed.